Question

In each of the three systems, determine the state of entropy (low or high) when comparing the first and second:

i. the instant that a perfume bottle is sprayed compared with 30 seconds later,
ii. an old 1950s car compared with a brand new car, and
iii. a living cell compared with a dead cell.

Answer 1

Entropy measures the disorder within a system, with high entropy equating to high disorder. Upon spraying perfume, entropy increases as the molecules disperse. An old car has higher entropy than a new car due to degradation, and a dead cell has higher entropy than a living cell because it has lost its order.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of entropy is crucial when assessing the disorder and randomness in systems. It can be applied to various scenarios to determine if a system has high or low entropy. Let's analyze the three given systems:

1. The instant that a perfume bottle is sprayed compared with 30 seconds later: Initially, the perfume molecules are concentrated in the bottle, representing a state of low entropy. Once sprayed, they disperse into the air, resulting in a state of higher entropy due to the increased randomness and distribution.
2. An old 1950s car compared with a brand new car: An old car has experienced wear and deterioration over time, leading to higher entropy. In contrast, a new car has lower entropy due to its more ordered state and lack of degradation.
3. A living cell compared with a dead cell: A living cell has a complex and highly ordered structure, signifying low entropy. When a cell dies, it loses its structure and order, which leads to an increase in entropy.

Therefore, the correct answers are i. low to high entropy as perfume disperses, ii. low entropy for a new car and high entropy for an old car, and iii. low entropy for a living cell and high entropy for a dead cell.