Entropy: the myth of Sisyphus and Rye Harbour

 

At Rye Harbour, the elements move shingle along from the Hastings end eastwards every year. Every winter, it is dug out, loaded into lorries and taken back to the Hastings end! It seemed to me a good example of the way energy has to be expended to maintain a system in higher entropy or greater order than would be natural. In order for that to happen, the total entropy or total disorder has to be increased elsewhere. This will be from the wasted heat energy from the machinery. It reminded me of the myth of Sisyphus.