Hints At Illusion: Irreversible Laws
So it will be with the occurrences corresponding in the reverse universe to almost any common occurrence in the physical world of our experience. Everything seems to be perfectly explicable in terms of physical laws, but at the same time, the combinations of motions seem to have something utterly strange about them. Hence there is some point of difference between the real universe and the reverse universe, and hence there must be some property of the real universe that is irreversible. This irreversible property is found in what is called the second law of thermodynamics.
William James Sidis
This physical law, as well as all those which are derived from it, is irreversible. Furthermore, only such physical laws as are derived from the second law of thermodynamics are irreversible; so that this law constitutes the sole difference between the real and the reverse universe.
William James Sidis
“The sole difference between the real and the reverse universe” is the Second Law of Thermodynamics in this examination of the nature and structure of reality via its apparent laws. Sidis in The Animate and the Inanimate makes this distinct motion about this particular law compared to other laws.
In this sense, the Second Law of Thermodynamics becomes a fulcrum for the operations of the first universe, or the real universe, and the reverse universe, or the reverse time universe. All physical laws, according to the earlier portions of the text, must be, by necessity, reversible.
While, at least, one is not. More will be expounded in later chapters about the illusory nature of laws in this regard through the text-based representation of a thought experiment, not on the nature of time but, on the nature of natural law through time. Natural law here does not mean a religious ethic found in Natural Law.
For laws’ operation through matter as a consistency, matter in the real universe and the reverse universe will be the same. However, against common sense or ordinary experience in the real universe, balls will bounce up the stairs rather than down. This peculiarity speaks to the strangeness of the reverse universe compared to the real universe.
The stairs “throw” the ball up – utterly peculiar, strange. Physical law describes the actions of the ball, the how. Such a why, though, it seems entirely queer. Sidis proposes this within the framework of the common denominator of the real universe and the reverse universe.
One is the Second Law of Thermodynamics with the energy of the universe “constantly running down.” With differences of energy in different volumes of the universe, the cosmos will equalize the energy distribution, eventually.
Further, he explains. Any law connected to this Second Law of Thermodynamics will be irreversible by derivation as well. Even though, energy can be reconverted; heat will be lost. The energetic clock runs down, not up, here.
This is an example of an irreversible law when contrasting the real universe and the reverse universe, of Sidis. He considers the Second Law of Thermodynamics, in fact, the “sole” difference between them.
What is the reason for this universal peculiarity? With a universe running down from the concentrated forms of energy to pure evenly distributed heat means the universe will exact upon itself a state in which no further state transitions seem possible: a dead universe as the real universe, in the end.
In the reverse universe, the universe, in some sense, winds up, not with a loss of heat with collisions, but an increase in heat or molar kinetic energy. Heat is gained, not lost when contrasting the reverse universe and the real universe collisions.
When comparing a machine efficiency to the physical laws, Sidis measures all as less than 100% efficient, because heat is lost, not gained. By its nature, in the thought experiment, the reverse universe becomes more than 100% efficient – let’s call this superefficient.
In turn, the reverse time universe becomes superefficient vis-à-vis mechanical efficiency to the point of a minimum of >/= 100% in the real universe. Yet, as physical property mirrors one to the other, the reverse universe maps onto the real universe in most respects with the mechanical efficiencies, potentially, as reflective of one to the other in terms of supraefficiency and superefficiency.
One universe’s supraefficiency is another’s superefficiency when considered on a reversal of the factor or variable of temporality. Sidis remarks on temperature too. With two bodies at 0° and 200° Fahrenheit, the available energy would be represented by the temperature of the hotter body or the one corresponding to 200° Fahrenheit.
While, at the same time, the colder body remains 460° above Absolute Zero here. In each of the two bodies, there is 460° of unavailable energy for the two. With the same mass and specific heat, the total available energy, under the Second Law of Thermodynamics, would be 460° and 460° plus a corresponding 0° and 200° Fahrenheit, respectively, for a total of 1,120° Fahrenheit between the two bodies.
The total energy available becomes 200°:1,120° for a total energy conversion possibility of 18%. Energy in this available form becomes unavailable because of the Second Law of Thermodynamics with the amount of available energy in the universe consistently running down and not up. Cosmos exists as zero-sum in this framework, so far.
A cosmogony, cosmology, and eschatology of the transient and the self-constrictive. A constriction bound by the progression of time as experienced as an Arrow of Time moving ‘forward.’ In such a reverse universe, energy is not dissipated as heat but inculcated or absorbed – in a manner of speaking – into the bodies in an environment.
“Bodies” here means general bodies, not human or animal alone. Energy below the coldest is drawn upon as a reserve and there exists a reserve fund of energy building energy differences based on reserve rather than dissipation, as in a supraefficiency versus a superefficiency.
Opinions and Perspectives
The implications for energy and heat flow are particularly relevant to current environmental concerns.
It's amazing how deeply the second law of thermodynamics is woven into our reality.
The mathematical treatment of efficiency above 100% is particularly interesting from an engineering perspective.
This makes me wonder about all the other possible variations of universal laws we haven't considered.
The reverse universe concept really helps illustrate why our physical laws work the way they do.
Reading this changed how I think about the relationship between time and energy.
I love how this challenges our basic assumptions about how the universe works.
The article gives me a new appreciation for how fundamental thermodynamics is to our reality.
These ideas seem more relevant now than ever with our current energy challenges.
The concept of energy reserves building up instead of depleting is fascinating. Completely flips our understanding.
Does anyone else find it amazing how one law can create such fundamental differences between universes?
The comparison between the two universes really highlights how special our thermodynamic laws are.
I'm struck by how mathematical logic can lead us to such counterintuitive conclusions.
This whole discussion makes me question what we consider normal versus strange in physics.
The description of heat absorption rather than dissipation is particularly interesting to me.
Wonder what other consequences of reverse thermodynamics we haven't considered yet.
The implications for causality are mind-bending. How would cause and effect work in such a universe?
I appreciate how the author builds the argument step by step, even though the conclusions are pretty wild.
The article really challenges our assumptions about what's possible in physics.
The concept of available versus unavailable energy is crucial to understanding both universes.
Never thought about how energy conversion percentages would work in a reverse universe. Really makes you think.
Would love to see modern physicists' take on these ideas. Some seem surprisingly relevant to current theories.
The mathematical framework seems solid, even if the concepts feel counterintuitive.
Yes, and I think that's key to understanding why the second law is so special compared to other physical laws.
Anyone else find it interesting how heat behaves so differently in the reverse universe?
The idea of a universe winding up instead of down is weirdly optimistic compared to our entropy-bound reality.
I keep coming back to the practical implications. Could this help us design better energy systems?
The author's thought experiment helps show how our intuitions about causality might be biased by our universe's properties.
This feels like it connects to modern discussions about time crystals and quantum mechanics.
The cosmological implications are staggering when you really think about it.
Still not convinced that the second law is the only difference. Seems like there would be other implications we haven't considered.
Fascinating how one law can make such a fundamental difference between two versions of reality.
The explanation of mechanical efficiency really clicked for me. It's like comparing a downhill roll to an uphill climb.
Would consciousness work differently in a reverse universe? The article doesn't address this but it makes me wonder.
The article made me realize how much we take the direction of time for granted in our physical theories.
I wonder how these concepts relate to current theories about the expansion of the universe.
The distinction between available and unavailable energy helped me understand entropy better than my college textbooks did.
Not necessarily. Sometimes complex ideas require complex explanations. Physics isn't always intuitive.
The temperature calculations seem overly complex. There must be a simpler way to explain this concept.
Anyone else notice how this connects to modern theories about time's arrow? Seems ahead of its time.
I never realized how fundamental the second law of thermodynamics is to our understanding of reality.
The article could have used more concrete examples. Some of the theoretical concepts are hard to visualize.
These ideas would make a great sci-fi story. Imagine exploring a universe where all our basic assumptions about physics are reversed.
The concept of reserve energy in the reverse universe is mind-bending. Like an anti-entropy force gathering energy instead of dispersing it.
I find it interesting how the article suggests that most physical laws would work the same in both universes. Really highlights the special nature of thermodynamics.
The language gets pretty technical in places. Had to read some sections multiple times to grasp the concepts.
Reading this changed my perspective on time itself. Maybe time's direction is just another physical property we take for granted.
The comparison between efficiency ratings above 100% reminds me of perpetual motion machines, which we know are impossible in our universe.
Wonder what other physical laws might look different if we could somehow observe the reverse universe.
The mathematical consistency is impressive, even if the concepts seem counterintuitive.
I appreciate how the article uses everyday examples like bouncing balls to explain complex theoretical physics.
But in the reverse universe, things would be getting more organized and energetic over time. Almost like evolution in reverse.
The idea of a dead universe as the ultimate endpoint is pretty depressing when you think about it.
This whole concept makes me question what we consider normal in our universe. Maybe our laws aren't as absolute as we think.
Sure! Think of it like a battery. In our universe, batteries drain. In the reverse universe, they'd naturally charge up. The temperature examples show how energy distributes differently.
Can anyone explain in simpler terms how the available energy calculations work? The Fahrenheit examples confused me a bit.
What strikes me most is how the reverse universe isn't just our universe backwards, but a fundamentally different system with its own internal logic.
The zero-sum framework makes sense mathematically, but I struggle with the practical applications in either universe.
Love how Sidis distinguishes between natural laws and religious Natural Law. Important clarification that many might miss.
The article seems to dance around the philosophical implications. If time reversal changes how energy behaves, what does that say about causality?
I'm curious about the practical implications. Could understanding these concepts lead to better energy efficiency in our own universe?
This reminds me of watching videos played backwards. Everything follows physical laws but looks completely unnatural to us.
The temperature examples really helped clarify the concept for me. I never considered how the absolute zero baseline affects available energy calculations.
Actually, that's the whole point of the article. Our understanding of entropy only applies to our universe. The reverse universe would operate under different principles.
The way heat behaves in the reverse universe sounds impossible to me. How can you gain heat from collisions? It goes against everything we know about entropy.
I'm still trying to understand the terminology. What exactly does supraefficiency mean compared to superefficiency in this context?
The mechanical efficiency comparison between universes really caught my attention. It's mind-bending to think about something being more than 100% efficient, even theoretically.
Reading about the energy conversion rates made me think about my old physics classes. Never thought about it in terms of available versus unavailable energy like this before.
I disagree with some points here. The author seems to oversimplify the relationship between physical laws and their reversibility. There must be other factors at play.
The concept of balls bouncing up stairs in a reverse universe really helped me visualize how weird things would be. I can't wrap my head around how that would actually look in real life!
I find it fascinating how Sidis presents the second law of thermodynamics as the only real difference between our universe and its reverse counterpart. It makes me wonder about all the strange implications.