Is there any useful sense in which entropy fluctuates?
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My somewhat facetious answer to that: Because it allows us to formulate the laws of thermodynamics.
I have somewhat of an understanding for other physical quantities, but as far as entrophy goes I only know it to be "disorder". Why is the change in entropy formula an appropriate/useful definition, moreover, why is the equation for entropy an appropriate statement for entropy. With things like volume and pressure, at least, I have a natural inkling as to what they are. What is entropy, more than disorder.
I have somewhat of an understanding for other physical quantities, but as far as entrophy goes I only know it to be "disorder". Why is the change in entropy formula an appropriate/useful definition, moreover, why is the equation for entropy an appropriate statement for entropy. With things like volume and pressure, at least, I have a natural inkling as to what they are. What is entropy, more than disorder.
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Hello user
To eliminate exceptions to the second law due to fluctuation phenomena, etc., the following changes are necessary. First we must state the laws of thermodynamics in terms of Gibbsian ensembles rather than of individual systems. Second we must sharpen our conception of the experimental procedure required for producing states of thermodynamic equilibrium. It will not suffice to isolate the system and wait. We must have the positive stirring action of thermal contact with a thermostat. Using the new definition of thermal equilibrium we can place statistical mechanics on a more satisfactory footing by showing that the thermostat experimental procedure leads to the canonical ensemble and maximizes v. Neumann's microscopic entropy. (Details of this proof appear in succeeding paper). Difficulties with his macroscopic definition of entropy are avoided by showing that his original microscopic definition is satisfactory when used in conjunction with a proper operational definition of thermodynamic equilibrium. In conclusion the second law of thermodynamics is derived from quantum statistics on the basis of the microscopic definition of entropy.
To eliminate exceptions to the second law due to fluctuation phenomena, etc., the following changes are necessary. First we must state the laws of thermodynamics in terms of Gibbsian ensembles rather than of individual systems. Second we must sharpen our conception of the experimental procedure required for producing states of thermodynamic equilibrium. It will not suffice to isolate the system and wait. We must have the positive stirring action of thermal contact with a thermostat. Using the new definition of thermal equilibrium we can place statistical mechanics on a more satisfactory footing by showing that the thermostat experimental procedure leads to the canonical ensemble and maximizes v. Neumann's microscopic entropy. (Details of this proof appear in succeeding paper). Difficulties with his macroscopic definition of entropy are avoided by showing that his original microscopic definition is satisfactory when used in conjunction with a proper operational definition of thermodynamic equilibrium. In conclusion the second law of thermodynamics is derived from quantum statistics on the basis of the microscopic definition of entropy.
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