--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

What is Maxwells demon

Maxwell's demon (J.C. Maxwell): A contemplation experiment describing the concepts of entropy. We contain a container of gas that is partitioned into two equivalent sides; each side is in thermal equilibrium with the other. The walls and the separation of the container are ideal insulators.

Now suppose there is a very small demon who is waiting at the separation next to a small trap door. He can close and open the door with slight (negligible) work. Let's state he opens the door to permit a fast-moving molecule to travel from the left side to the right, or for a slow-moving molecule to travel from the right side to the left, and remains it closed for all other molecules. The total effect would be a flow of heat -- from left side to the right -- even although the container was in thermal equilibrium. This is obviously a violation of the second law of thermodynamics.

Thus where did we go wrong? It turns out that information has to do with entropy also. In order to sort out the molecules according to speeds, the demon would be containing to keep a memory of them -- and it turns out that rise in entropy of the maintenance of this simple memory would be more than make up for the reduction in entropy due to the flow of heat.

   Related Questions in Physics

  • Q : Define Uniformity principle Uniformity

    Uniformity principle (E.P. Hubble): The principle which the laws of physics here and now are not dissimilar, at least qualitatively, from the laws of physics in preceding or future epochs of time, or somewhere else in the Universe. This principle was

    		•
  • Q : What is Lumeniferous aether

    Lumeniferous aether: The substance that filled all the vacant spaces between matter that was employed to elucidate what medium light was "waving" in. Now it has been harmed the reputation of, as Maxwell's equations entail that electromagnetic radiatio

    		•
  • Q : Define Ergosphere Ergosphere: The area

    Ergosphere: The area around a rotating black hole, among the event horizon and the static limit, where the rotational energy can be removed from the black hole.

    		•
  • Q : Define Universal constant of gravitation

    Universal constant of gravitation: G The constant of proportionality in the Newton’s law of universal gravitation and that plays a comparable role in Sir Einstein's general relativity. This is equivalent to the 6.672 x 10-1

    		•
  • Q : What do you understand by term ray

    What do you understand by term ray casting? Explain briefly?

    		•
  • Q : Explain Thermodynamic laws Explain

    Explain Thermodynamic laws and also First law, Second law, third law and zeroth law of thermodynamics? Thermodynamic laws:

    Q : What do you mean by the term density

    What do you mean by the term density? Briefly explain it.

    		•
  • Q : What is Causality principle Causality

    Causality principle: The principle which cause must always precede effect. More properly, when an event A ("the cause") somehow persuades an event B ("the effect") that take

    		•
  • Q : Define Fermi paradox Fermi paradox (E.

    Fermi paradox (E. Fermi): E. Fermi's inference, simplified with the phrase, "Where are they?" questioning that when the Galaxy is filled with intelligent and scientific civilizations, why haven't they come to us hitherto? There are nu

    		•
  • Q : Balanced field takeoff Describe the

    Describe the process of balanced field takeoff in brief?

    		•