Recently, I watched a documentary on how certain species of birds can adapt to super cold temps way below zero degrees Fahrenheit, and the narrator touched on “absolute zero.” My understanding of “absolute zero” is that there would be no movement. No vibrations.
But, how could we ever test for absolute zero if an “observer” would cause some movement? Is absolute zero applicable in theory only? And does absolute zero really have anything to do with temperature, as we define it in every day life? Something can be “hot” or “lukewarm,” and we can measure temperatures but when we examine absolute zero, is it really more about lack of movement, than lack of heat?
I thought I somewhat understood absolute zero but I hadn’t ever considered that it could be anything more than guesswork if an observer is unable to truly test for it, since an observer would generate movement and in turn, heat. If there is no way to test absolute zero, what’s the point in theorizing it?
But, how could we ever test for absolute zero if an “observer” would cause some movement? Is absolute zero applicable in theory only? And does absolute zero really have anything to do with temperature, as we define it in every day life? Something can be “hot” or “lukewarm,” and we can measure temperatures but when we examine absolute zero, is it really more about lack of movement, than lack of heat?
I thought I somewhat understood absolute zero but I hadn’t ever considered that it could be anything more than guesswork if an observer is unable to truly test for it, since an observer would generate movement and in turn, heat. If there is no way to test absolute zero, what’s the point in theorizing it?
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