A teacher at the front of a classroom sprays a mist of perfume into the air. After a few minutes, the students in the back of the room are able to smell the perfume. This is an example of ____.
A)increasing entropy only
B)diffusion only
C)decreasing entropy only
D)increasing entropy and diffusion
E)decreasing entropy and diffusion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The perfume molecules are spreading out and becoming more randomly distributed, which is an example of increasing entropy. This process is facilitated by diffusion, as the perfume molecules move from an area of high concentration (near the teacher) to an area of lower concentration (the back of the room). Therefore, this is an example of both increasing entropy and diffusion.

A Teacher at the Front of a Classroom Sprays a Mist