Abstract

Thermodynamics is usually thought of as applying only to microscopic systems requiring the use of statistical methods. Few know of, and fewer yet believe, the proof that Bergmann provided that showed one may not derive the classical laws of thermodynamics from Newtonian mechanics using statistical methods. It has previously been shown that the laws of thermodynamics lead to a mechanical entropy that must seek a maximum for isolated systems. This means that entropy determines the direction of flow for isolated systems. This article will discuss the functional form of entropy as it determines the flow of dynamics for an isolated system. This will display the character of entropy as physical time and will show how this form of physical time depends upon the forces in the law of conservation of energy, how this physical time compares to Einstein's proper time, and how this physical time is only applicable in dynamic systems that are operating under the influence of a force. This means that for isolated systems entropy differs from local time only for those systems with non-zero forces. For kinematic studies physical time is identical to local time.