RE: Entropy, Kalam, and First Cause
March 18, 2015 at 6:02 pm
(This post was last modified: March 18, 2015 at 6:04 pm by watchamadoodle.)
(March 18, 2015 at 5:47 pm)Alex K Wrote:I didn't understand the link, but this line jumped-out to me:(March 18, 2015 at 5:40 pm)watchamadoodle Wrote: Is there a minimum value for entropy?In classical physics I don't think so (not 100% sure), but in quantum systems there's the third law:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_law_o...modynamics
Quote:Also is there a minimum incremental change for entropy?
I don't think so...
Quote:Physically, the Nernst–Simon statement implies that it is impossible for any procedure to bring a system to the absolute zero of temperature in a finite number of steps.I suppose that means it is impossible to trace the universe back to time zero? (or maybe not... WTF do I know

The finite number of steps sounds discrete to me. I edited my post to add this additional question (for you or anybody else

Quote:I saw an article describing entropy as the log of the number of states of a computer byte (i.e. the number of bits). Does this suggest that the universe is discrete, or is there a non-discrete way of imagining entropy too? (Sorry I know this is probably a silly question.)