William F. Sheehan
University of Santa Clara Santa Clara, California 95053
Pollution and Thermodynamics
The laws of thermodynamics summarize the behavior of energy and matter at the level of man's sense. They describe quite succinctly how chemical and physical systems exist at equilibrium. Pollution is itself matter and/or energy, and the activities of man and all of nature are as varied as the motions of molecules. It is interesting to speculate whether there exist analogs of the laws of thermodynamics to describe the behavior of pollution and polluters. That is, makers and sellers of deodorant soap, through threats of B. O., and the zealous purifiers of cities and other marks of civilization, through their work on smog, sewage, and the like, may be subject to description by a similar set of laws. Zeroth Law
If two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a common third system, then they would be in thermal equilibrium with each other upon thermal contact. (This law defines temperature differences, which are important in detecting and measuring heat.) Or again, if pollution is like thermodynamics, people and things polluted to the same degree are unaware of pollution. (This law defines the difference between B. 0. and fresh air, between sewage and water.) First Law
The work required to change the state of a system, thermally insulated from its surroundings, from a given initial state to a given final state is independent of the process and the source of the work. (This law says that energy is a function of state and that energy is
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conserved.) Or again, the effort required to destroy a given amount of pollution, even under ideal conditions, inevitably leads to an equal amount of pollution of a different kind. (This law says that the makers and users of deodorant soap use and degrade resources of water and energy to the same degree that they kill B. O., while depolluters in general pollute as much as they depollute.) Second Law
It is impossible isothermally to transform heat into work and nothing more. (This law says that thermal disorder never gets organized into order all by itself.) Or again, regardless of what is done to cure pollution, things are bound to get worse. (This law says that chemical and physical processes or devices aimed at reducing pollution will in the long run lead to even more pollution and waste.) Third Law
I t is impossible to reach absolute zero in a finite process. (This law says that disorder is a minimum a t equilibrium at absolute zero.) Or again, it is impossible to end pollution. (This law says that pollution is an inescapable natural disorder and the product of any activity, human or not.) The Future
If these so-called laws of pollution hold, the cure for pollution is clearly to stop making flint arrowheads and to revive the dinosaur. Maybe the dinosaurs, by imitating man, can then stop pollution by. . .
