Question detail
What does entropy measure in a system?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Thermodynamics (A-level only)
Question
- A. The total energy of the system
- B. The dispersal of energy or disorder
- C. The temperature of the system
- D. The pressure of the system
Answer
The dispersal of energy or disorder
Explanation
Entropy quantifies the degree of disorder or randomness in a system, indicating how energy is distributed among the particles.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Entropy
Students often confuse entropy with energy, thinking it measures energy rather than the dispersal of energy or disorder in a system.
Entropy (S) is defined as a measure of the dispersal of energy or disorder. To clarify, remember that higher entropy indicates greater disorder and energy dispersal in a system, while lower entropy indicates more order. For example, in a solid, particles are closely packed and have low entropy, whereas in a gas, particles are far apart and have high entropy.
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