MCAT Physics Question 38: Answer and Explanation
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Question: 38
8. The entropy of a system can:
- A. never decrease.
- B. decrease when the entropy of the surroundings increases by at least as much.
- C. decrease when the system is isolated and the process is irreversible.
- D. decrease during an adiabatic reversible process.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The entropy of a system can decrease as long as the entropy of its surroundings increases by at least as much. On the other hand, the entropy of an isolated system increases for all real (irreversible) processes. This adheres to the second law of thermodynamics, which says that energy will be dispersed and entropy of the universe will remain constant or increase during all processes.