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Author Topic:   The Truth About Evolution and Religion
AZPaul3
Member
Posts: 8564
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 338 of 419 (561909)
05-24-2010 10:28 AM
Reply to: Message 331 by dkroemer
05-24-2010 7:23 AM


Re: Evolution and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
Isn't true that the problem with explaining the evolution of life from random mutations comes from of the second law of thermodynamics? Doesn't the second law state that it is impossible to get four perfect bridge hands in 13 billion years?
Of all the stupid ...
wait ...
Buzzsaw, is that you?
Edited by AZPaul3, : spelin

This message is a reply to:
 Message 331 by dkroemer, posted 05-24-2010 7:23 AM dkroemer has not replied

  
AZPaul3
Member
Posts: 8564
From: Phoenix
Joined: 11-06-2006
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 341 of 419 (561922)
05-24-2010 12:50 PM
Reply to: Message 326 by dkroemer
05-24-2010 4:55 AM


Re: Evolution and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
The Earth and sun taken together is a closed system, so the second law applies.
Let's assume this is correct, which it isn't as has been pointed out, but we'll take this as axiom.
The laws of thermodynamics then require that the amount of energy available for useful work within this system decrease over time.
There are two sources of thermal energy for this planet.
The sun is by far the largest. It produces an enormous amount of energy that flows out into the system becoming ever thinner (inverse square rule) until a local equilibrium is reached in the outer reaches of the system; no thermodynamic excess for useful work. The sun is a mega-entropy producer.
On this planet, however, the amount of the sun's energy we receive is well beyond the point of local equilibrium.
The other source of thermal energy is our spinning planetary core. This also produces an enormous amount of thermodynamic excess.
Between these two sources we exist within an enormously huge thermodynamic excess.
Now please pay attention since you have missed this in your one-sided treatment of thermodynamics.
The laws of thermodynamics not just allow but require that in areas of thermodynamic excess, useful work, structure and order, a decrease in entropy has to occur.
This is why we have plate tectonics, clouds, Hagen-Dazs Ice Cream and life.
So you can consider the sun-Earth system as thermodynamically closed yet still have the local thermodynamic excess required for life to form, evolve and play bridge.
BTW, no matter the order of the deck, just the existence of the deck of cards is a decrease in entropy. The thermodynamic excess we enjoy allowed their manufacture, which, when viewed in total is balanced by the increase in entropy (use of work) caused by the manufacturing process.
Your view of thermodynamics is errant. It has nothing to do with the mathematical probabilities of card order or molecules bumping into one another but everything to do with the flow of energy, excess, useful work to make decks of cards and put and keep the molecules together.
Edited by AZPaul3, : i wanted to
Edited by AZPaul3, : again

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