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Dissipation refers to the process by which energy is lost from a system, typically as heat or sound, due to various mechanisms. In physics, this often relates to the conversion of organized energy into disorganized thermal energy. For instance, when a moving object encounters friction, its kinetic energy is dissipated into heat at the interface between the surfaces. Similarly, electrical resistance in a circuit causes electrical energy to be dissipated as heat in the wires.

In thermodynamics, dissipation is a consequence of the second law, which states that the total entropy of an isolated system can only increase over time. This increase in entropy is often associated with the dissipation of useful energy. Dissipative systems are those where energy is continuously lost to the surroundings, preventing them from reaching a state of perpetual motion.

The concept of dissipation is crucial in understanding phenomena ranging from the mechanics of everyday objects to the behavior of complex systems like weather patterns and the universe itself. It plays a significant role in engineering design, where minimizing unwanted energy dissipation is often a key objective, such as in reducing energy loss in engines or improving the efficiency of electrical devices. In contrast, in some applications, such as damping vibrations, dissipation is intentionally engineered to be high.