Final answer:
Chance is viewed as a random process associated with increased entropy, leading to irreversible states rather than restorative equilibrium. The second law of thermodynamics supports this, indicating that the disorder of systems generally increases, aligning with the random nature of such processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chance is commonly viewed as a random process in which a deviation in one direction induces a deviation in the opposite direction to restore equilibrium. This question relates to the nature of processes in thermodynamics which can be categorized as reversible or irreversible. The scenario described corresponds with how a random process does not correct deviations to maintain equilibrium. Instead, random processes can lead to increased entropy or disorder, as systems tend towards more statistically probable states. This idea is encapsulated in the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.
The correct answer is (c) Random. As demonstrated in Figure 15.15, which offers examples of one-way processes such as the spontaneous transfer of heat from hot to cold and the expansion of gas in a vacuum chamber, reversible processes that spontaneously self-correct to restore balance are not the norm. In fact, these irreversible processes are based on probabilistic outcomes; they align with Enduring Understanding 7.B that posits the tendency of isolated systems to move towards states of higher disorder, a principle driven by probability.
Heat transferring from a hotter to a cooler body cannot spontaneously reverse direction, a car's brakes convert kinetic energy to heat irreversibly, and gas released into a vacuum expands and doesn't spontaneously return to one corner. These examples illustrate that most natural processes are irreversible under standard conditions, thereby increasing the entropy of the universe rather than allowing for a restorative balance to an initial equilibrium.