I.

Evolution requires the organization of very large biological compounds from simpler atom and
molecules. From theses biological compounds came simple organisms, which then evolved to
more complex life forms. Does evolution violate the second law of thermodynamics? State you
stand clearly and support it with facts and equations.

Evolution is often compared or contradicted with the second law of

thermodynamics which states that entropy, that is commonly defined as disorder, increases as
time goes on which resulted into randomness in closed systems while evolution decreases
entropy over time that increases complexity in species and became more organized.
Therefore, the law tells us that universe must go to an ordered state to a disordered state. But for
life to have evolved, as Darwin said, it should have gone from a low state of order to a higher
state of order which violates the second law of thermodynamics.
Yet the second law of thermodynamics doesnt stop a part of a closed system to be ordered as
long as the other part is getting more disordered since the term closed system means it has no
interaction with or receive input from other systems, especially one that obeys conservation laws.
An example for this is the changes of the weather, sometimes youll notice that the weather
outside is cold which means the air has a less entropy than the warm air and ordered since
molecules arent moving that much. Therefore, nature has a capacity to be organized out of
disorder without violating the law since the part of the universe decreases its entropy while there
is an increase in entropy in other parts.
Unlike the second law, evolution does not take place in a closed system but it needs the existence
of outside forces. There can be an environmental effect that makes the organisms (with particular
mutation) survive and able to pass their genes to the next generation. The genes can get more
complex but only if it interacts outside of the system or outside of the world. By that interaction,
some other form of entropy will be generated which increases the entropy of the universe as a
whole. Resulted into less ordered organisms and only few can produce more complex organisms,
making the complexity decreased.
Therefore, what happens with an individual can also happen with a species and the energy can
increase order as well. Evolution does not violate the second law, it is merely a result of the first
law, energy being converted from one form to another.
Based on this equation: S < 0 , it says that entropy of the system decreases when complex
biological molecules are formed in biological cells but it doesnt violate the second law of
thermodynamics since it states that the total entropy of the its surrounding and system must grow
in unexpectedly. Total entropy change can be positive is the heat is released in the surroundings,
Ssur > 0. Thus, causes increasing disorder of the surroundings. Also, endothermic biochemical
reactions are driven forward by coupling with highly exothermic reactions.
The entropy of life form may decrease but the use of energy will increase the entropy in organisms
area which can be compared to a pollution that surrounds people. Once an organism dies and
doesnt have the capability to use energy to maintain its order, the organism will undergo decay,
return to a simpler state and disorder.
II. Discuss and sketch the Carnot Cycle, and provide sample computations using one mole of an ideal
gas of your choice. You are free to designate Th and Tc, as well as the values of the pressures of the
cycle.

The Carnot Cycle is an ideal cycle that doesnt have disperse actions taking place and all of the
processes are quasi-static (process that occurs slowly to remain internal equilibrium). The advantage of
using ideal cycles having the ability to place an upper limit on the effectiveness of a variety of cycles, and
can also examine some of the essential thermodynamic features of these cycles. Its simplicity provides
useful insight into the restrictions that the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics place on cycles.
Other than that, Carnot Cycle involves two reversible adiabatic transitions and two reversible isothermal
transitions. The Carnot efficiency sets to limiting value on the fraction of heat when the second law states
that not all supplied heat in heat engine can be used. In order to approach efficiency, the processes in
heat engine should involve no entropy change and it is reversible. (which means the Carnot Cycle is
idealization.)

Carnot Cycle follows a four step

process:

1 to 2: Isothermal expansion. Take in

heat Q H from the hot reservoir, keeping
the gas at constant temperature T H .
2 to 3: Adiabatic expansion. The gas
does work without any heat flow in, so
the temperature decreases. Continue
until the gas temperature is T C .
3 to 4: Isothermal compression. Heat Q
C is exhausted at constant temperature
TC.
4 to 1: Adiabatic compression until the
temperature is back to T H . (Figure 1)

Figure 1. The Carnot Cycle

Sample Computation:

1. A Carnot Cycle has a one mole of oxygen gas contained in a cylinder-piston with high
temperature of 600k and heat rejection of 100k. Compute for s, u, w and q.
Given: P1 = 14 atm, P2 = 9 atm, P3 = 10 atm, P4 = 4 atm, TH = 600k , TC = 100k