The source introduces entropy as a way of restating the second law of thermodynamics in yet another form. What two things does it say entropy is a measure of?
AThe temperature and pressure of a system
BThe total mass and volume of a system
CA system's disorder and unavailable energy
DThe total energy content of a system
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. A system's disorder and unavailable energy
1. Entropy gives the second law yet another form of expression, connected to the idea of disorder rather than only to temperature direction.
2. It is stated directly that entropy measures a system's disorder and the unavailability of its energy to do work.
3. Temperature, pressure, mass and volume are ordinary state variables, not what entropy itself measures, ruling out options A and B.
4. Entropy is not simply the total energy content of a system; energy can stay constant while entropy still increases, ruling out option D.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 15 "Thermodynamics", section 15.6 Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics: Disorder and the Unavailability of Energy_
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