In the beginning

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This is the first verse of the Bible, it is important to note that God is assumed to exist and he is designated as the first cause from which all affects come. Mentioned in this verse are the three main components of the universe space (the heaven), mater (the Earth), and time (the beginning).

In physics, relativity theory shows that space, matter (energy) and time are interrelated parts of the universe such they can not exist separately. It also shows that time is an integral property of the universe that can have a beginning. Furthermore the beginning of time must coincide with the beginning of space and matter and Genesis 1:1 is consistent with this.

Matter in Physics

Matter:is anything that has mass and occupies volume. It is the general term for the substance of which all physical objects are made. Mass is in the generally sense it is the amount of matter in an object. It is the term for two properties of matter that are equal in value: inertial mass gravitational mass. Inertial Mass is the resistance of a body to acceleration when responding to force. Gravitational Mass is  the property of an object that determines the strength of its gravitational field and its reaction to gravity.

The existence of a relationship between the inertial and gravitational mass of an object is evident from the fact that they have same the value. However General Relativity shows that inertial and gravitational mass are two aspects of the same thing. Special Relativity shows that an objects mass is equivalent to the amount of energy an object contains.

There are three main states of matter with distinctions based on differences in bulk properties. They form a triad with each one able change directly to the other two. Other forms are called states exist but they mainly are variations of these three. Solids have a definite volume and definite shape. Liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape. Gas has no definite volume or shape. Plasma is commonly called the fourth State of Matter. It is an ionized gas where electrons have been freed their atoms; usually by heat. It is mainly an extreme form of gas with all defining characteristics of a gas that is no definite volume or shape. It is the most common form of normal matter.

Normal Matter is composed of atoms. Atoms are a nucleus; made of protons and neutrons; with electrons around it. This form of matter in what we commonly experience. Matter makes up everything around us, everything we see, everything we touch and even our bodies.

Matter is one of the three main parts of the Universe Space, Time and Mass. (matter) Relativity shows them to be inter-related in that space and time are so interrelated that they form a single entity called space-time. Furthermore mass warps space-time forming gravity and the motion of mass contracts both space and time. In common experience matter is what makes up objects around us and Physics has shown that it to be a lot more. Matter is a fundamental part of the universe.

The Work of Energy

Energy is the ability of a system to do work. Special Relativity shows that energy has mass and that the mass all matter is a result of energy, so that all substance is based on energy.

The 1st Law of Thermodynamics states that the energy in any interaction is conserved. The result is that is the total amount of energy in the universe is constant. It is also stated as energy can not be created or destroyed but it can change forms.

Below is a list of common types of energy

1. Heat energy is the energy associated with the temperature of an object.
2. Light energy is the energy associated with visible light.
3. Electrical energy is the energy associated with an electric current.
4. Chemical energy is the energy associated with the reactions involving molecules.
5. Nuclear energy is the energy associated with reactions involving atomic nuclei.
6. Kinetic energy is the energy associated with motion.
7. Potential energy is the energy of a system based on its position or condition. Stored energy.
8. Rest mass energy id tThe energy of an object that is not in motion. E= mc²

Energy is one of the three main parts of the Universe space, time and mass and relativity shows them to be inter-related. Space and time are so interrelated that they form a single entity. Furthermore mass warps space-time forming Gravity and the motion of mass contracts both space and time. 

In conclusion in common experience energy is what moves us and allows us to move thing. Physics has shown it to be a lot more. It is a fundamental part of the universe.

The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

0^th Law of Thermodynamics: Two objects in thermal equilibrium with a third object re also in equilibrium with each other.

The 0^th Law is called the 0^th Law and not the 4^th because it is more fundamental than the 1^st law but was discovered after the other three. 

The idea is like having three interconnected beakers of water such that the water levels in all three are the same height. Furthermore because the beakers are interconnected any change in one gets balanced out so all three end up with the same level.

The zeroth law of Thermodynamics is a simple concept and which why it is the most fundamental of the Laws of Thermodynamics.

Introduction to Physics

Physics is the study of energy, and matter and  the ways they interact. Physics not just formulas you may not understand. While physic is scientifically expressed by formulas, it is more than those formulas. It can take the form of practical experience. 

Physics is even found in sports. Baseball is a prime example of physics in sports, specifically ballistics. Pool is another example of physics in sports specifically collision physics.

The two main founders of physics are Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. These two men are the main ones responsible for establishing modern physics, there were others involved but they were the most significant.

Physics is central to all other physical sciences including Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Cosmology and Geology.  Physics has shown us much about the structure of matter, the nature of Energy and the nature of space and time. Physics has the potential to shown us how the universe works and the nature of reality itself.

Concepts of Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is the study in physics of the transfer of energy, the work it does and it’s affect on matter. Thermodynamics is dynamic and not kinetic so it is not concerned with the actual processes of energy movement. Thermodynamics deals with the results of the transfer of energy.

There are two main fields of Thermodynamics Classical Thermodynamics and Statistical Thermodynamics.

Thermodynamics was developed as a result of the study of steam engines and was based entirely on empirical measurement and it lead to the four laws of Thermodynamics. In their simplest forms Laws of Thermodynamics can be stated as follows:  

• 1^st Law of Thermodynamics: Energy can be neither created nor destroyed.
• 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics: The amount of unusable energy in a closed system increases.
• 3^rd Law of Thermodynamics: As the temperature of a substance approaches absolute zero it’s entropy of approaches zero.
• 0^th Law of Thermodynamics: Two objects in thermal equilibrium with a third object are also in equilibrium with each other. It is labeled the  0^th Law instead of the 4^th because it is more fundamental than the 1^st law but it was discovered after the other three.

Statistical Thermodynamics works at microscopic as well as macroscopic level. It not only explains why the four laws of Thermodynamics work and it explains things that Classical Thermodynamics can not.

In conclusion the principles of Thermodynamics are the most well tested scientific principles known. They are also so general that they apply to everything in the universe including the universe itself. Thermodynamics is path independent so it often does not matter how one get from state “A” to state “B” which is why it applies to everything

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states the following:

• It is impossible to turn all of the heat put into a system into work so that you can’t make a 100% efficient engine.
• The amount of unusable energy in a closed system increases.
• The entropy in a closed system always increases.

The basic concept behind the 2^nd law of Thermodynamics is the fact that heat always spontaneously flows from hot objects to colder objects. It never spontaneously flows from cold objects to hot objects.

When heat transfer is being used to do work some of the heat always goes to the colder location. This wasted heat is called entropy. Simply put you can never turn all of the heat into work.

Now heat can be forced to go from a cold object to a hot object by applying work, which also reduces entropy, thus showing that work can reduce entropy. This process is the bases of air conditioners, refrigerators, and heat pumps.

Entropy is the measure of a system's thermal energy unavailable for conversion into mechanical work. It is also a measure of the equivalent states or multiplicity of a system and there by a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system.

In Classical Thermodynamics entropy is mathematically defined as dS = dQ/T.

These results in the change in entropy as: DS = Q/T.

• S = entropy
• Q = Heat energy
• T = Temperature

In statically thermodynamics entropy is mathematically defined as S = k ln W.

This results in the change in entropy as: DS = k ln W₂ / W_1.

•  S = entropy
•  k = Boltzmann constant
•  W = the multiplicity of a system.

Entropy and Disorder

Entropy is related to disorder through multiplicity of a system denoted by W. The multiplicity of disordered states (W_d) is far more than the multiplicity of ordered states (W_o) such that W_d >> W_o  this means they S_d >> S_o.

Since 2nd Law of Thermodynamics indicates that entropy tends to increase it also indicates that a system’s degree of disorder tends to increases. The only way to increase a system’s order and there by decrease its entropy; is to do work on the system.

Abiogenesis and 2nd Law

Abiogenesis is life spontaneously being formed from non life by naturalistic means. However living things are the most ordered and complex systems known to exist, and the simplest known living cell is infinitely more organized and complex than the most organized non-living chemical systems produced in a lab

This means that the entropy of a living cell is many orders of magnitude lower than the entropy of the same amount non-living chemicals. This means that abiogenesis goes against the 2nd law’s tendency towards increasing entropy.

While entropy can be decreased by applying work to a system no evidence exists for a naturalistic mechanism for such a large decrease in entropy. Without this mechanism the 2nd law suggests that abiogenesis is impossible.

Applied Energy and 2nd Law

While the 2nd Law shows that energy applied a system can reduce its entropy, it does not show how the manner in which energy is applied to a system affects entropy.  It does not show the deference between construction work and a bomb.

Construction work reduces a system’s entropy while bombs increase a system’s entropy.  Unfortunately the 2nd Law does not show the difference.  So an additional principle is needed to show this difference and it is also need to really determine if abiogenesis is possible or not.

1st Law of Thermodynamics

The 1st Law of thermodynamics can be stated as follows

1. The Law of Conservation of Energy.
2. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed but it can change forms..
3. Total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant.

From a creation perspective this makes sense since the Bible says the God completed his creation on day six. It is however a problem from an evolutionary perspective, since it needs all of the energy in the universe to naturally come from some place.

One proposed evolutionist solution to their problem of the source for the universe is to invoke negative energy with the idea that the total amount of positive and negative energy adds up to zero energy. The problem with this notion is that what is theoretically called negative energy is not truly negative but a dipping of vacuum energy (zero point energy) below the zero point energy "empty" space. Therefore the level is always positive.

The final nail the coffin of the notion that the total amount of energy in the universe is zero is that negative energy must be followed by a larger amount of positive energy so the positive energy must always be larger than negative energy. As a result the total energy of the universe must be > 0.

Reference: Negative Energy, Wormholes and Warp Drive

The significance of the 1st Law of Thermodynamics is that the total amount of energy in the Universe is constant. It is also impossible to get more energy out of a system than is put into it. You can not get energy from nothing it has to come from some place. Most often it is stored in the form of some type of fuel but regardless energy has to come from some source. 

The 1st Law of Thermodynamics tells us a lot about what systems are possible and what systems are impossible. Any system that puts out more energy than is put into it from all sources is impossible. To be possible a system must it needs to get energy from some place, even if it is not an obvious place. This does not mean that you can’t get more energy out of a system tan you put into it but it has to come from someplace.

Free Energy is often associated with pseudo-science and conspiracy theories but it is a legitimate scientific term. In classical thermodynamics free energy is the energy in a system available to do work. However “free energy” refers to a group of devices alleged to put out more energy than the user supplies to them. Though I have never seen a convincing demonstration of a free energy device the question here is does free energy violate the 1st Law of thermodynamics? 

The answerer is no as long as the free energy device gets energy from some place. Now there are recognized devices that technically qualify as free energy they include solar cells which get their energy from sun light and wind mills that get their energy from wind. However most alleged free energy devices seek to tape the Universe’s zero point energy. Now it is highly debatable as to whether or not this zero point energy can be taped but in principle it does not violate the 1st law thermodynamics.   

In conclusion the 1st Law of thermodynamics simply says that the amount energy in a closed system remains constant.  This is regardless of how it is changed or is moved around. To add energy to a system it needs to come from some place else.