[editor-surveyor]

"Please explain this via your interpretation of the 2nd Law and entropy."

Non-sequiter.

There is a systematic influnce at work in this: the differing densities of the liquids, and a gravitational field. Re-do the experiment in endless free-fall and comment on your findings. Due at close of class today.

[thomaswest]

You posted: "Please explain this via your interpretation of the 2nd Law and entropy."
Non-sequiter.
There is a systematic influnce at work in this: the differing densities of the liquids, and a gravitational field. Re-do the experiment in endless free-fall and comment on your findings. Due at close of class today."

Reply:
I am gratified that you know that substances have different densities. What do you think happens in a zero-gravitational field? Do you guess there will be no separation of the liquids and no appearance of order?

However, how do you square your answer with the 2nd Law? There is nothing in the 2nd law about densities, is there?

[manwiththehands]

"There is a systematic influnce at work in this: the differing densities of the liquids, and a gravitational field."

OK ... how about an earth-sized box of billions of different sized Legos covered with photovoltaic cells in earth's gravitational field? Expose it to sunlight. Add lightning ... Carl Sagan liked to do that ... shake it up for a few billion years and then see what "evolves"?

Maybe that'll do it.

[bobdsmith]

Non-sequiter. There is a systematic influnce at work in this: the differing densities of the liquids, and a gravitational field

So you are saying the 2nd law of thermodynamics does not apply in the presence of other natural laws? No wonder you think it conflicts with evolution.

[grey_whiskers]

There is a systematic influnce at work in this: the differing densities of the liquids, and a gravitational field. Re-do the experiment in endless free-fall and comment on your findings. Due at close of class today.

Not to mention hydrogen bonding in the water as opposed to the oil...