Dental Admissions Test (DAT) Practice Test

According to the second law of thermodynamics, all systems have a tendency to move towards...

1. Equilibrium

2. Inorganic reactions

3. Order

4. Disorder

The correct answer is: Disorder

According to the second law of thermodynamics, all systems have a tendency to move towards disorder or entropy. This is because energy flows from areas of greater concentration to areas of lesser concentration, and as the energy disperses, the system becomes more disordered. Option A, equilibrium, is incorrect because although systems can reach a state of equilibrium, the second law of thermodynamics states that it is not the preferred state. In fact, the spontaneous movement towards equilibrium actually leads to an increase in disorder within the system. Option B, inorganic reactions, is incorrect because the second law of thermodynamics applies to all systems, not just inorganic reactions. It is a fundamental law of physics and applies to both living and non-living systems. Option C, order, is incorrect because the second law of thermodynamics states the opposite - that systems tend towards disorder. Although order and organization can exist within a system, the overall trend is towards disorder. Therefore, the only correct answer is D, disorder, as it aligns with the second law of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy.