#physic # [[Epistemic status]] #shower-thought # Related - [[Second law of thermodynamics]] - [[Entropy]] # The asymmetry of second law of thermodynamics >Thus, in a purely mechanical world there could not be a before and an after as we have in our world: the tree could become a shoot and a seed again, the butterfly turn back into a caterpillar, and the old man into a child. No explanation is given by the mechanistic doctrine for the fact that this does not happen, nor can it be given because of the fundamental property of the mechanical equations. The actual **irreversibility** of natural phenomena thus proves the existence of processes that cannot be described by mechanical equations; and with this the verdict on scientific materialism is settled’ >~ [[Abraham Pais - Subtle Is the Lord|Abraham Pais]] The second law of thermodynamics is asymmetric because it states that entropy always increases over time. This means that the universe is constantly moving towards a state of disorder and chaos. >The irreversibility requirement of the second law brutally clashes with the laws of motion ruling the elementary constituents of matter >~ [[Chiara Marletto - The Science of Can and Can't a Physicist's Journey Through the Land of Counterfactuals|Chiara Marletto]] It is important to note that the second law of thermodynamics is not reversible. This means that you cannot go back in time and reverse the entropy of the universe. The second law of thermodynamics is a fundamental law of nature that is responsible for the arrow of time. >The laws of general [[Relativity|relativity]] (the other most accurate description of physical reality we possess) are reversible, too. If there is a trajectory that takes a system from A to B, there must also be one that takes it from B to A. Microscopic constituents of matter must operate in this reversible manner because they obey these laws of motion. The problem, then, is: How can the second law require that some energy transfers are irreversible and be compatible with the reversibility of the laws of motion? >~ [[Chiara Marletto - The Science of Can and Can't a Physicist's Journey Through the Land of Counterfactuals|Chiara Marletto]] It means that once entropy has increased in the universe, it can never decrease again. This is why the universe is constantly moving towards a state of complete disorder and chaos. The simulation theory posits that our universe is a computer simulation. If that is the case, then the second law of thermodynamics would be a programming code that is responsible for the arrow of time. To test this hypothesis, we can find: - try to find evidence of computer code in the fabric of the universe - find a way to reverse entropy in a controlled laboratory setting. If we are able to do this, it would provide strong evidence that our universe is indeed a computer simulation. - we can develop a game or simulation where entropy decreases over time. If the second law of thermodynamics is correct, then the game or simulation would eventually reach a point where it would reset or break down. This would show that the second law of thermodynamics is an inherent property of our universe and not just a programming code. ![[Pasted image 20220816081018.png]] ![[Pasted image 20220816080950.png]] In the long-term future time will stop existing ![[Screenshot_2022-08-16-07-44-05-316_com.google.android.youtube.jpg]] Homogenous -> heterogenous # External links