关于热力学第二定律的诘难和佯谬——对《物理化学》教学的一点看法

Doubts and paradoxes involving the second law of thermodynamics

从正反两个方面了解热力学第二定律,对于提高教学效果是有重要意义的。历史上对于热力学第二定律的诘难和佯谬主要有“热寂说”、麦克斯韦妖、吉布斯佯谬、洛施密特诘难、策尔梅洛诘难五种。“热寂说”混淆了无限和有限的界限,忽视了万有引力的作用;麦克斯韦妖没有考虑到信息的性质和作用;吉布斯佯谬只是一种形式上的佯谬;洛施密特诘难、策尔梅洛诘难则都是忽略了实际体系的随机性质。对五种诘难和佯谬进行辨析可知,热力学第二定律并没有被驳倒。热力学第二定律是有严格的适用条件,即只适用于有限时间和空间的宏观体系。向学生介绍以上内容有助于其对热力学第二定律科学本质的深入理解,也会促进其正确应用热力学知识辨别错误观点的能力。

It is of importance for the improvement of teaching quality to understand the second law of thermodynamics from the two aspects of the positive and negative aspects. In the history, there are five doubts and paradoxes of the second law of thermodynamies. They are the "heat death", Maxwell's demon, Gibbs paradox, Loschmidt Doubts and E. Zermelo interrogation. The "Heat death" confuses the differences between finite and infinite and ignores the role of gravitation. Maxwell's demon ignores the property and function of information. Gibbs paradox can be set up only formally. Loschmidt Doubts and E. Zermelo interrogation ignore the random property of the aetual system. The result of discussion about these doubts and paradoxes is that the second law of thermodynamics is right only in very strict conditions which are the macro systems in finite time and space. It will helpful for students to understand the nature of the second law of thermodynamics to introduce the above content, and it will promote the ability of the correct application of thermodynamics knowledge to identify the wrong views.