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Absolute Zero

Absolute zero is defined as the lowest temperature theoretically possible, when all motion ceases to exist. It is described as the complete absence of heat; at absolute zero all classical molecular motion stops, equal to 0 Kelvin or -273.15° Celsius (–459.69 degrees Fahrenheit). However, quantum mechanically, molecules cannot cease all motion (as this would violate the Heisenberg uncertainty principle), so at 0 K they still vibrate with a certain small, but nonzero energy known as the zero-point energy. Even at absolute zero all the atoms in a solid are vibrating like crazy; they just can't vibrate any LESS because they’ve reached they’re lowest possible energy level. A temperature below absolute zero would imply a speed of less than zero, which is not possible. Atoms in a room temperature gas normally move about 1,000 miles per hour and slow down as temperatures drop, atoms at these super-low temperatures close to absolute zero move about 3 feet per hour. At very low temper...

Posted by: Jason Cashmere

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