What term refers to the measure of disorder or randomness in a system?

The measure of disorder or randomness in a system is represented by the term "entropy." Entropy is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, reflecting the extent of chaos or distribution of energy within a system. A higher entropy value indicates a greater level of disorder or more possible arrangements of particles, while a lower entropy value corresponds to a more ordered state.

In practical terms, entropy helps explain the direction of spontaneous processes; systems tend to evolve towards states with higher entropy over time, illustrating the natural tendency for energy to disperse and systems to become more disordered. Thus, when discussing the characteristics of a thermodynamic system, entropy plays a crucial role in understanding its behavior and the flow of energy within it.