Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 15 - The Laws of Thermodynamics - Questions - Page 437: 14

Answer

No; This is not a spontaneous event. The net entropy of the system still increases.

Work Step by Step

Yes, the papers’ entropy decreased, but this didn’t happen spontaneously. You stacked them, and are part of the system. You provided energy to do this (gained through eating food), and in doing so, your own entropy increased. Though the entropy of the papers decreased, the net effect in the system is an entropy increase. The second law of thermodynamics wins again!
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