Absolute zero | Definition & Facts (2024)

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absolute zero, temperature at which a thermodynamic system has the lowest energy. It corresponds to −273.15 °C on the Celsius temperature scale and to −459.67 °F on the Fahrenheit temperature scale.

The notion that there is an ultimately lowest temperature was suggested by the behaviour of gases at low pressures: it was noted that gases seem to contract indefinitely as temperature decreases. It appeared that an “ideal gas” at constant pressure would reach zero volume at what is now called the absolute zero of temperature. Any real gas actually condenses to a liquid or a solid at some temperature higher than absolute zero. Therefore, the ideal gas law is only an approximation to real gas behaviour. As such, however, it is extremely useful.

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The concept of absolute zero as a limiting temperature has many thermodynamic consequences. For example, all molecular motion does not cease at absolute zero (molecules vibrate with what is called zero-point energy), but no energy from molecular motion (that is, heat energy) is available for transfer to other systems, and it is therefore correct to say that the energy at absolute zero is minimal.

Any temperature scale having absolute zero for its zero point is termed an absolute temperature scale or a thermodynamic scale. In the International System of Units, the Kelvin (K) scale is the standard for all scientific temperature measurements. Its fundamental unit, the kelvin, is identical in size to the Celsius degree and is defined as 1/273.16 of the “triple point” of pure water (0.01 °C [32.02 °F])—i.e., the temperature at which the liquid, solid, and gaseous forms of the substance can be maintained simultaneously. The interval between this triple point and absolute zero comprises 273.16 kelvins. The lowest temperature achieved in experiments has been 50 pico*kelvin (pK; 1 pK = 10−12 K).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.

Absolute zero | Definition & Facts (2024)

FAQs

Absolute zero | Definition & Facts? ›

Absolute zero is the lowest temperature possible. At a temperature of absolute zero there is no motion and no heat. Absolute zero occurs at a temperature of 0 kelvin, or -273.15 degrees Celsius, or at -460 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the absolute zero answer? ›

Absolute zero is defined as the point where no more heat can be removed from a system, according to the absolute or thermodynamic temperature scale. This corresponds to 0 K or -273.15°C.

What is the best definition of absolute zero? ›

Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature where heat energy is absent in a substance. Absolute zero is also known as zero kelvin temperature since it measures zero on the Kelvin scale. Minimal vibrational motion is displayed at this temperature by fundamental particles of nature.

What are the facts about absolute zero? ›

absolute zero, temperature at which a thermodynamic system has the lowest energy. It corresponds to −273.15 °C on the Celsius temperature scale and to −459.67 °F on the Fahrenheit temperature scale.

What 2 things are true about absolute zero? ›

The absolute zero is the state of a substance at which the temperature of the substance is 0 Kelvin. There is no motion of the particle of the substance at absolute zero, therefore each particle is at rest. The heat of the substance at absolute zero is zero.

Can you go below absolute zero? ›

Is your system really colder than zero Kelvin? No! Nothing can be colder than absolute zero (0K)! Negative absolute temperatures (or negative Kelvin temperatures) are hotter than all positive temperatures - even hotter than infinite temperature.

What happens to you at absolute zero? ›

At this extreme cold, the amount of energy available to the body for its functions decreases and diminishes entirely. Heat energy dissipates, leaving the body unable to maintain its natural processes. The behavior of electrons and the conduction of energy would drastically change from the usual conditions.

Does time stop at absolute zero? ›

So there is no sense in which time stops as we lower the temperature to absolute zero.

Why is absolute zero not possible? ›

The laws of thermodynamics indicate that absolute zero cannot be reached using only thermodynamic means, because the temperature of the substance being cooled approaches the temperature of the cooling agent asymptotically.

How close are we to reaching absolute zero? ›

At present, it's not possible to cool that final 38 trillionths of a degree — and several hurdles would have to be overcome for it to become a reality. In fact, even if we were to reach absolute zero, we might completely miss it due to imprecise measuring techniques.

Is there anything on Earth at absolute zero? ›

While we have never observed an object that measures at absolute zero, we have gotten quite close both here on Earth and in the most distant reaches and outer layers of our galaxy. Scientists have been fascinated by these frigid places in the universe, including the Boomerang Nebula.

Is there anything above absolute zero? ›

Any object with a temperature above absolute zero emits a continuous spectrum of electromagnetic radiation at all frequencies, which is its thermal emission, usually modeled as “blackbody” radiation.

What is the coldest thing in the universe? ›

Yet, there is one object we know of out in the universe that is able to chill a region of space even colder than the temperature of the CMB. The coldest place in the universe, a young planetary nebula called the Boomerang Nebula, is -457.87 degrees Fahrenheit (-272.15 degrees Celsius).

Do things stop existing at absolute 0? ›

Some might think that at absolute zero particles lose all energy and stop moving. This is not correct. In quantum physics there is something called zero point energy, which means that even after all the energy from particles has been removed, the particles still have some energy.

Does matter exist at absolute zero? ›

To have something at absolute zero in theory means it has no kinetic energy, but that's not possible, because then the materials would cease to exist as normal matter, due to laws of quantum mechanics.

Will the universe ever reach absolute zero? ›

Even at its very end, no matter how far into the future we go, the Universe will always continue to produce radiation, ensuring that it will never reach absolute zero.

What is the answer to the absolute value of 0? ›

The absolute value of a number is the magnitude of that number without considering its sign. Since 0 is zero units away from itself, the absolute value of 0 is just 0. The absolute value of 0 is written as |0| and is equal to 0. Thus, the absolute value of 0 = |0| = 0.

What is the absolute zero equation? ›

The mass measurements are converted to high and low temperature gas volumes and Charles's Law, V = a⋅ T+ b, is used to calculate absolute zero.

What is absolute zero equal to *? ›

Absolute zero is zero degrees Kelvin, equal to −273.15 degrees Celsius and −459.67 degrees Fahrenheit.

What exists at absolute zero? ›

To have something at absolute zero in theory means it has no kinetic energy, but that's not possible, because then the materials would cease to exist as normal matter, due to laws of quantum mechanics.

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