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COSMOLOGY : OLD AND NEW
APPENDIX A
DOOM OF THE UNIVERSE
According to Hindus all matter, space and time are engulfed into the Supreme Being at the time of Maha pralaya and then it is He who unfolds the universe again, whereas according to Jainas the nature of the universe itself is such that after it has completely run down, it re-generates itself by carrying out the cycle in the reverse order.
According to modern science, the universe is gradually running down in the material sense of the word. In the language of science, we say that the entropy of the universe is tending towards the maximum. This has been proved mathematically by Maxwell from the second law of thermodynamics. In nature, heat is constantly flowing without interruption from a body at a higher temperature to a body at a lower temperature and air automatically flows from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure. Thus there is a tendency towards equalisation of temperature and pressure all over the universe.
The Efficiency of a heat engine is greater if the difference of temperatures between the source of heat and the exhaust is large i.e. greater the difference of temperatures, the higher is the efficiency. In other words we can say that the availability of energy for doing work is becoming less and less every monient and when the entropy of the universe reaches its maximum, no work will be possible. The state of affairs will correspond to the idea expressed in Mariner's Poem''water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.'
The sum total of energy in the universe will be the same as before but it will not be available for work. No motion of any kind will be possible. The whole universe together with its immates will be at a stand-still. Living beings will neither be able to move nor to breathe. Life of all forms will be extinct.
