An example of a teaching analogy:
"Entropy is an important factor in discussing equilibrium. Either the forward or reverse reaction will be favoured by the entropy factor … that is, allowing atoms and molecules to move from a state of lesser to greater disorder.
Imagine taking a small box and into it packing marbles so that all the marbles in each horizontal layer are the same color, or show some other definite pattern. When the box is shaken for a while then the contents examined, you will see that the marbles are now quite randomly* arranged … they have spontaneously moved to a state of greater disorder (higher entropy)."
Previously posted at scienceanalogies.com by retired science teacher Murray Hart – original source: Smoot, R.C., Price, J. and Smith, R.G. Chemistry A Modern Course Don Mills: Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1987, p.386
Read examples of scientific analogies
* Arguably, the marbles only seem to be randomly arranged as in principle they have moved according to known laws due to the actions of specific forces – perhaps 'arbitarily arranged' might be better?
