Question

Which of the following is true of an open system?

A. It is more likely to experience entropy than is a closed system.

B. It uses resources from the external environment for internal processes, but does not return anything to the external environment.

C. The input, process, and output stages in the production process are performed in the external environment.

D. It is a self-contained system that is not affected by changes in its environment.

E. It takes in resources from its external environment and converts them into goods that are then sent back to that environment for purchase by customers.

Answer 1

The correct statement about an open system is that it takes in resources from its external environment and converts them into outputs that are released back into the environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Of the given options, the true statement of an open system is: E. It takes in resources from its external environment and converts them into goods that are then sent back to that environment for purchase by customers. Open systems exchange both matter and energy with their surroundings, continuously interacting with their environment. This interaction can include taking in raw materials or energy, converting them through various processes, and releasing products and wastage back into the environment. A classic example of an open system is a living organism which takes in energy in the form of food and releases energy to the environment through work and heat. In contrast, systems like a stovetop that loses heat or a pot of boiling water that releases water vapor into the air are also considered open systems. Moreover, open systems such as biological organisms never reach equilibrium and can achieve a steady state where energy input equals the output rate. They are governed by the laws of thermodynamics, where the first law states that energy in the universe is constant and the second law states that every energy transfer increases the entropy of the universe.