Enthalpy vs Entropy

[lynbarnes]

Are they opposite? Is enthalpy the amount of energy one puts into a system to make it more ordered? and isn't entropy how fast a system devolves into chaos once energy isn't applied anymore? I'm talking generally, not specifically. And don't give me formulas--I'm uncomfortable here enough = )

[lynbarnes]

Desinq, man, a modern gypsy, an adventurer; not only physically but philosophically. Boldy going where others don't think to go--inside.

[BadBird2]

Are they opposite? Is enthalpy the amount of energy one puts into a system to make it more ordered? and isn't entropy how fast a system devolves into chaos once energy isn't applied anymore? I'm talking generally, not specifically. And don't give me formulas--I'm uncomfortable here enough = )
Question 2: No
Question 3: No
Question 1: Is the economic law of "supply and demand" the opposite of the law of "survival of the fittest"?

I'm sorry, even using formulas it would be impossible to explain either enthalpy or entropy unless the listener has at least three years of education in physics, engineering, and higher mathematics. But don't worry about it, you'll never have to use either of them in your daily life. Try going to Wiki for a fairly short explanation of the two terms.

[lynbarnes]

But don't worry about it, you'll never have to use either of them in your daily life.

If they act on me, I use them in daily life. Whether I know it or not.

[BadBird2]

If they act on me, I use them in daily life. Whether I know it or not.Regarding your edit: Sorry, I didn't mean to be condescending. It is just that Thermodynamics is a Junior level Engineering course simply because it would not be comprehensible to lower-division students and it would be frustrating to the professors to try to explain entropy and enthalpy unless the students had enough background to understand it. Simple statements such a defining entropy as saying that it is a measure of the unavailable energy in the universe (or commonly, "everything is running down") are really less than informative.

The two concepts are usable if you are designing jet-engines or doing high level physics, but they don't act directly on your life.

To ask if entropy and enthalpy are opposites is akin to asking if lemon-merangue pie is the opposite of moon rocks.

You can be rude now if you like.

[lynbarnes]

You can be rude now if you like.

I don't ever like to be rude. But I will say that I feel it shows intelligence to be able to explain something empirical in a way any layman might be able to get the gist of it. Einstein was able to explain the theory of relativity without relying on the underlying math and science. Did he do justice to the complexity and exactness of the theory? Heavens no. But we mere mortals are able to have the merest inkling of what is a pretty cool concept.

[lynbarnes]

D--really liked the stuff about Hans Haacke. Looked up the condensation box. http://www.slought.org/content/11208/ Very cool.