Re: [Phys-l] the uniqueness of entropy

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 06/30/2011 06:28 AM, William Maddox wrote:
>      Not everyone agrees with 2a even within physics. The authors of the 
> paper on entropy in the July issue of AJP, who are disagree with 
> Swendsen's Journal of Statistical Physics article, state: " The key to 
> the resolution is the recognition that the entropy concept in 
> thermodynamics is not identical to that in statistical mechanics".

People sometimes make mistakes, even within physics.

In particular, in the context of re-inserting the partition in a
Gibbs-type mixing experiment, the quoted claim that
  "According to statistical physics, there is a decrease of W 
   and thus of the entropy."
is just wrong.  That's not what the statistics (or the physics)
says.  It's just not true classically, quantum mechanically,
mathematically, or otherwise.

What about you?  Do you think that dealing (partitioning) cards
into hands reduces the system entropy?  Really?  If not, why
quote claims you know can't be true?

===

The further quoted claim that entropy could be reduced without 
violating the second law is just as crazy.