Question

What does entropy mean? How does a living organism cope with entropy?

Answer 1

Hint: Entropy is the variable, which is generally used to tell about of the disorder of the system, or it can also be defined as the amount of energy that is available in the system that to be used, greater the disorder of the system, we can say that entropy is more.

Complete answer:
- Living organisms, usually cope with entropy, because they take energy into the body in the form of food, whereas in the case of plants, in the form of photosynthesis, and at the same time, during this process, some energy is given out, or some energy may be wasted.
- One can consider entropy as a state variable.
- In living organisms, it mainly tells about the amount of energy that is available in the system to be utilized.

In thermodynamics, the entropy is defined by a formula such as $S=\dfrac{Q}{T}$
Where, $S$ stands for entropy
$Q$ is internal energy
$T$ is the temperature.

- According to the second-order of Thermodynamics, the entropy of a closed system will never decrease.
- Isolated systems are always evolving spontaneously and provide thermodynamic equilibrium.
- If we consider the universe as an isolated system, however, the entropy is maximum. But when it comes to life, it is not an open system, where energy flows continuously in and out.
- For us, food is the energy to maintain any function, like locomotion, repair of cells, etc. So one can say that if there is a constant intake of energy in living organisms always cope up with entropy.

Note: The thing that is opposite to entropy is considered as Negentropy which means the system more organized or one can say that system is in more order, one of a good example for Negentropy is the solar system, where it is in more order.