Do biological systems contradict the second law of...

Question

Do biological systems contradict the second law of thermodynamics? By taking energy
from their surroundings and synthesizing large, complex biological molecules, plants and
animals tend to concentrate energy, not disperse it.How can this be so?

Jules Bruno · Accepted Answer

In this problem, we are asked if biological systems contradict the second law of thermodynamics. Recall that the second law of thermodynamics states that: “the entropy of the universe increases.”Entropy is the degree of randomness or disorder in a system.The system is the part of the universe that is of interest.There are three types of system.An open system can exchange both energy and matter with its surroundings.A closed system can exchange only energy with its surroundings, not matter.An isolated system is one that cannot exchange either matter or energy with its surroundingsThe surroundings is everything that is not included in the system.The universe is the combination of the system and the surroundings.To answer this problem, let us first define what kind of systems are biological systems.[readmore]Biological systems are open systems, it constantly exchanges matter and energy with the surroundings.It is said that biological systems are highly ordered.For example, every cell in our body has its internal systems, these cells are organized into tissues, tissues into organs, organs into the organ system, and then organ systems into our body.But even though biological systems are said to be highly ordered, its processes would always result in a net increase in the entropy of the universe.This because of the increases in the entropy of surroundings by continually exchanging energy and matter from the system.For example, you are running in a marathon, your body converts chemical energy from complex molecules like glucose, which came from the food we eat, into kinetic energy, for your muscles to contract to enable movement.§This process, however, is very inefficient, as large amounts of energy source are just converted into heat, some of it is retained as body heat, but most of it is released into the surrounding.§The release of heat from the system to the surrounding increases the entropy of the surrounding, thus increasing the entropy of the universe.Therefore, biological processes are sustained by the open exchange of matter and energy from the system and the surrounding, which results in a net increase in the entropy of the universe.This net increase in the entropy of the universe invalidates the assumption that biological systems violate the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.Biological systems do not violate the second law of thermodynamics.

Problem: Do biological systems contradict the second law of thermodynamics? By taking energy from their surroundings and synthesizing large, complex biological molecules, plants and animals tend to concentrate energy, not disperse it.How can this be so?

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Problem Details

Problem: Do biological systems contradict the second law of thermodynamics? By taking energy from their surroundings and synthesizing large, complex biological molecules, plants and animals tend to concentrate energy, not disperse it.How can this be so?

FREE Expert Solution

Problem Details

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