The Energy of Segmentation ,287 



place continuously; an energy transfer or transformation takes 

 place in the direction of higher-to-lower potential. This process 

 continues until the two opposed intensities are equal, i. e., until 

 equilibrium is reached. 



Therewith, too, is that definition of equilibrium given, which 

 applies to two opposed intensities. The other definition is in terms 

 of compensation: A compensated potential difference is equilib- 

 rium. 



In general, a system, supposing it to be isolated, is in equilibrium 

 if all the intensities are constant, or, what is the same thing, if the 

 quantity of each energy form which is free to transfer or trans- 

 form is a minimum, /. e., has the value zero. 



However, this supposition is contrary to fact; an absolute and 

 complete equilibrium is never really obtained. 



It is this Second Law in particular which conditions the hypoth- 

 esis through which my experimentation was guided, and the compu- 

 tations made. Accordingly, those of its details which subsequently 

 come into consideration have been stated. 



The Third Law, Entropy: This needs to be stated only because 

 of its general bearing on the nature of organic processes and of 

 its leading to the Fourth Law. 



Its three aspects can be given briefly: First, most events are 

 exothermic, t. e., some of the energy of the system in which a trans- 

 fer is taking place is always transformed into heat. Second, the 

 intensity factor of heat energy, temperature, cannot be completely 

 compensated; heat energy, therefore, spreads out, radiates, is dis- 

 persed. Third, just as the condition of this dispersion is a poten- 

 tial difference, so is the result a simultaneous tendency toward 

 a uniform equalization of temperature, a condition under which 

 heat energy is not further available; it is then "degraded." Because 

 of these three simultaneous "tendencies" the entropy of the uni- 

 verse is said to increase. By virtue of them, "natural events" 

 have an irreversibility, a definiteness of direction. 



From the above statement it is clear that this Law is in some of 

 its features only a part of the Second. 



The Fourth Law: As really including, or as implied by, the 

 three laws already discussed, and possibly therefore to be regarded 



