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Mon 24 Aug, 2015 07:08 am
Does "out of thermodynamic equilibrium" refer to "not involved with thermodynamic equilibrium"?
Context:
Dissipative system
abstract:
A dissipative system is a thermodynamically open system which is operating out of, and often far from, thermodynamic equilibrium in an environment with which it exchanges energy and matter.
-Wikipedia
@oristarA,
Something that is in thermodynamic equilibrium is in balance with its surrounding; the amount of heat going in is the same as the amount of heat coming out.
Being out of equilibrium is the opposite of being in equilibrium.
@maxdancona,
maxdancona wrote:
Something that is in thermodynamic equilibrium is in balance with its surrounding; the amount of heat going in is the same as the amount of heat coming out.
Being out of equilibrium is the opposite of being in equilibrium.
Thanks.
Opposite? Worse than "far from"?
@oristarA,
Quote:Opposite? Worse than "far from"?
What does your dictionary say for opposite?
It's not a comparative, it's an absolute.
@oristarA,
I am not sure I understand the question. This terminology sets up two possible states.
A system is either
in equilibrium or it is
out of equilibrium. These are opposites in the sense of being mutually exclusive.
in ... out of
Further examples:
in time versus out of time
in balance versus out of balance
in favour versus out of favour
in trouble versus out of trouble
in debt versus out of debt
@oristarA,
Sometimes things are just a little off balance. Sometimes things are way off or "far from" being balanced.
"Out of" equilibrium = not in equilibrium.
"Far from" equilibrium = not even close to equilibrium at all
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