Temperature has a direct effect on entropy because it affects how particles move:
- Higher temperature → more particle motion
- When temperature rises, particles move faster and occupy more possible positions and energies.
- This increases disorder, so entropy goes up.
- Lower temperature → less particle motion
- When temperature drops, particles slow down and are more restricted.
- This reduces disorder, so entropy goes down.
Examples:
- Ice at 0°C: molecules vibrate slightly → low entropy
- Water at 100°C: molecules move freely → higher entropy
- Steam at 100°C: molecules move very fast → highest entropy
In short: Higher temperature increases entropy because it makes the system more disordered.