A Pedagogical Simulation of Maxwell’s Demon can help students better understand the statistical basis of thermodynamics. The program simulates two gas chambers with an opening between them. Students set up parameters for how the demon permits or denies passage of particles through the opening, thus decreasing the total entropy of the system. While the program is designed primarily to teach the relation between entropy and information, it can also be used to help students better understand other important thermodynamic concepts such as thermal equilibrium, relaxation time, diffusion, reversible and irreversible processes, and distribution of particle velocities.
You can find A Pedagogical Simulation of Maxwell’s Demon and the entire peer-reviewed collection at JCE WebWare.
More Information
Citation
Coleman, William F.; Fedosky, Edward W. J. Chem. Educ.2004 81 1679.
Keywords
Computer-Based Learning; Internet / Web-Based Materials
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