February 3, 2020

A better description of entropy



I open my discussion of entropy in AP chemistry by saying that I'm going to offer an incorrect definition of entropy, that it's the same incorrect definition I was taught in high school and that my students will likely be told in college - as I was - that the high school definition isn't correct...that it's a drastic simplification.

I've said this for years, and I've had other people who study chemistry in college confirm that same story having happened to them, too.

I also will admit that I tried to read PF Atkins's The Second Law without much success.

So, let's try to be a little more precise and correct by watching Steve Mould's video up above - it's a video explaining how a Sterling engine works - and try to be better about what entropy really is.

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