Spontaneous processes are those that occur naturally without external intervention, driven by a decrease in free energy. They are characterized by an increase in entropy and are often associated with the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.

Spontaneous Processes

Spontaneous processes

External intervention refers to the involvement of an external entity, such as a state, organization, or coalition, in the internal affairs of another state or region, often to influence outcomes in conflicts, governance, or humanitarian crises. It can be driven by strategic interests, humanitarian concerns, or international obligations and may have complex impacts on sovereignty, stability, and international relations.

external intervention

decrease in free energy

increase in entropy

The second law of thermodynamics states that in any natural thermodynamic process, the total entropy of a system and its surroundings always increases over time, leading to the concept of irreversibility. This law explains why energy transformations are not 100% efficient and why systems naturally progress towards thermal equilibrium, where entropy is maximized.

second law of thermodynamics

total entropy

An isolated system is a physical system that does not exchange matter or energy with its surroundings, making it an idealized concept in thermodynamics. In reality, perfectly isolated systems do not exist, but the concept is useful for simplifying and analyzing complex systems by assuming no external interactions.

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