the universe total amount of energy does not ever change, but the amount of this energy that is available to do work varies tremendously. what statement best explains the changes in available energy.
The changes in available energy are best explained by the concept of energy conservation.
The changes in available energy can be explained by the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of a closed system increases over time. Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness of a system, and as energy is used to do work, it is often converted into less usable forms, increasing the overall entropy of the system. This means that although the total amount of energy remains constant in the universe, the amount of energy available to do useful work decreases as entropy increases.
The changes in available energy can be best explained by the second law of thermodynamics, which states that in any isolated system, the total entropy (a measure of unavailable energy) will always increase over time. This leads to a decrease in the amount of energy available to do useful work.
To understand this concept further, let's break it down:
1. The concept of energy conservation: The total amount of energy in the universe remains constant. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only converted from one form to another (as stated by the law of conservation of energy).
2. Availability of energy: However, although the total energy is constant, the available or usable energy decreases over time. This decrease is associated with the concept of entropy.
3. Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics: Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness of a system. The second law of thermodynamics states that in any isolated system (such as the universe), the entropy tends to increase over time.
4. Loss of useful energy: As the entropy increases, the energy becomes more evenly distributed, resulting in a loss of its ability to do useful work. This loss occurs because a concentration of energy requires a lower entropy state, whereas an even distribution corresponds to a higher entropy state.
In summary, the changes in available energy are best explained by the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of an isolated system increases over time, leading to a decrease in the amount of energy available to do useful work.