Final answer:
Entropy is the measure of the randomness or disorder within a system, which increases as energy is lost in the form of heat. This concept is part of the second law of thermodynamics and reflects the tendency of systems to become more disordered over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Entropy is a measure of the randomness or disorder of a system. When considering different states of matter, gases exhibit higher entropy than liquids, and liquids have higher entropy than solids.
It's understandable in everyday situations: a cleaned and organized room has low entropy, but as it becomes more disordered over time, the entropy increases.
It is a key principle that the natural tendency of a system is for its entropy to increase, reflecting the second law of thermodynamics indicating that energy transfers or transformations always lead to a loss of energy as heat, thus increasing disorder.
In scientific terms, entropy measures how many ways a system might be organized at the microscopic level while maintaining the same internal energy. High entropy signifies not only a high degree of disorder but also a reduced availability of energy to do work.
This concept can be easily visualized by considering how a student’s bedroom or a car deteriorates into disorganization without energy input in the form of cleaning or maintenance.
To answer the question, the correct choice is:
1) Entropy
because it is the measure of the disorder of a system.