1. Maxwell's Demon By, Christopher Bimbo

2. The Concept Was a theorized experiment conducted by a man named James Clerk Maxwell in 1867 He believed that it was possible to disprove the second law of thermodynamics

3. The 2 nd Law of Thermodynmics ”The Second Law of Thermodynamics ensures that two bodies of different temperature, when brought into contact with each other and isolated from the rest of the Universe, will evolve to a thermodynamic equilibrium in which both bodies have approximately the same temperature.”

4. Maxwell's belief He believed it was possible to contradict this by having something included in the system that  Could detect the speed of indivdual particles  Direct them and isolate them

5. Its flaws At the time there was no such technology that would aid in such a experiment

6. Today Computers Sensors Nanotechnology Biotechnolgy

7. Maxwell's Demon Tamed At the university of Edinburgh several researchers where able to create a molecular engine  Referred to as a ”Molecular Ratchet” Proved it was possible to force particles away form equlibrium But it required a external power source to drive it

8. Applications? Nature itself uses this method to accomplish many major biological functions In turn being able to create a artifical engine to do the same thing might allow for better sources of heat management or power production

9. Q & A

10. Links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell's_demon http://www.termodynamics.com/second.html http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/269 39 http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/269 39 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_ratchet