Absolute Zero

Discussion in 'Chemistry' started by Orleander, Dec 29, 2007.

  1. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    I never knew there was a different zero than the zero on a scale. So more than -400+ degrees is absolute zero. Why??
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. Idle Mind What the hell, man? Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,709
    Just like with mass, there are different units of measure. Absolute zero refers to 0 Kelvin, which is the point where all subatomic particles stop moving. It is equal to -273.15 degrees Celsius, and -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit.
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    So if I am dropped into liquid nitrogen and frozen, subatomic particles in my body are still moving?
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. Enmos Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    43,184
    Absolutely.
     
  8. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    Note:

    The point where all atomic motion is stopped. True absolute zero can never be reached though due to quantum effects (we would know the atoms exact position and momentum and this is verboten).
     
  9. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    Not sub atomic. But yes, your atoms and molecules are still moving plenty.
     
  10. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    and how does anyone know that?
     
  11. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    What?
     
  12. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    Know that subatomic particles are still moving in my frozen solid body
     
  13. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    Quit saying subatomic. It's atomic. Subatomic are the particles that make up atoms, among other things.

    Because you still have a temperature well above absolute zero when frozen in liquid nitrogen at ~ -196C. This is still "hot" compared to -273C.
     
  14. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    Hey, IdleMind said subatomic. Is he wrong?

    So a frozen person has never been sliced up and someone said "Yep, atomic particles are still moving"?

    my particles are the same as water or plant particles? All stopping at the same temp?
     
  15. Enmos Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    43,184
    Absolute zero is defined by the total lack of nett energy I think, which basically means that no movement can take place at that point.
    Actually heat is a form of energy possessed by atoms or molecules by virtue of the vibrational movement.
     
  16. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    so my completely frozen body and a rock give off heat?
     
  17. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    Yes, he's wrong.

    Err... probably not...

    All molecules have a specific temperature at which they freeze. At room temperature, iron is frozen, while water is a liquid. At 0C, water will freeze.

    Temperature is nothing more than a measure of the amount of kinetic energy the molecules in a thing posess. Solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas all have a temperature.

    As you remove energy from a thing by lowering its temperature, you are slowing down the molecules. This is where absolute zero comes into play. How can anything move slower than dead stop? It can't. This is the temperature where all molecular motion is as stopped as it can be. Dead stop. Quantum issues can prevent you from getting to true absolute zero, but you can get asymptotically close.

    Questions?
     
  18. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    Absolutely.
     
  19. Enmos Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    43,184
    I have one.. if at 0 K no nett energy is present how can matter still exist ?
     
  20. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    No kinetic energy - energy of motion. Matter still has an energy equivalent of E = mc[sup]2[/sup] in it's rest frame.
     
  21. Enmos Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    43,184
    So electrons never stop, not even at 0 K ?
     
  22. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    what does asymptoblah mean?

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    Is there anywhere in the universe where its thought to be absolute zero?
     
  23. superluminal I am MalcomR Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,876
    No. Not that they are moving anyway in the way you might think of it. Electrons in orbitals are more like standing waves of probability than moving particles.
     

Share This Page