All matter and energy comes from a state of complexity and useful energy to a state of less complexity. And less useful energy in an isolated system.
The first part of the second law states that everything in the universe is decaying. It is the last two words of the definition that we need to be concerned about the isolated systems.
What is a system? A system can be anything we define it to be. The earth is a system, our bodies are a system and a cup of coffee is a system.
Are there different types of systems? There are two types of systems we need to be concerned about when discussing the origin of life:
1) Open System
2) Isolated systems
An open system is any system where matter or energy can be added to it or taken out of it. Examples of open systems include the earth or our bodies. The sun adds energy onto the earth. Energy is constantly added to our bodies from the sun and every time we eat or drink.
An Isolated system is a system where no matter or energy can be added to it or taken out of it. The only theoretical isolated system is the universe. Nothing comes in from the outside and nothing goes out of the universe; it is isolated.
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