What is the relationship between entropy and energy transfer?

The concept of entropy is deeply rooted in the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. When energy is transferred to the surroundings, the system often becomes more disordered, leading to an increase in entropy.

Choosing the option that describes how entropy increases with energy transfer to surroundings aligns with this understanding. When a system does work on its surroundings, or when heat is transferred out of the system, the energy disperses, leading to a greater spread or distribution of energy states. This dispersal increases the number of possible microstates of the system and, consequently, its entropy.

The other options suggest a misunderstanding of the relationship between energy transfer and entropy. For instance, entropy does not decrease with energy gain; rather, it can increase in cases of energy input as systems typically evolve toward greater disorder. Additionally, it is fundamental to recognize that entropy will not remain constant when energy is transferred, as changes in energy levels typically correspond to changes in the arrangement and distribution of particles within a system, impacting entropy.