On the Kelvin scale, there is a theory (which some of you may know) in which at -273.16 Degrees Celsius, It cannot get any colder, people believe this is the Holy Grail of cold. Yet my question is, scientests have only been able to get to a picokelvin, instead of (0.0000000000000000000 and beyond forever, AKA absolute zero) I was wondering, What keeps scientests from getting to Absolute Zero?
Because they don't have the ability to get to that level of cold? Technology is not endless. There are limits. Maybe they just don't have the ability to get that cold. In theory, something that cold couldn't be contained because it would just uber freeze whatever it comes in contact with.
True, most of our technology gets really close, but just not to the limits of Zero Kelvin. I heard on NOVA that it would take a massive laboratory, maybe even the size of the universe to get to Zero Kelvin, which is pretty much beyond impossible.
The main problem is that getting absolute zero means getting the subatomic particles to compleatly freeze in place and stop moving. Imagine forcing electrons to stay in place compleatly still, not even vibrating. This would be the level they need to reach.
[/quote]The main problem is that getting absolute zero means getting the subatomic particles to compleatly freeze in place and stop moving. Imagine forcing electrons to stay in place compleatly still, not even vibrating. This would be the level they need to reach.[quote]
that is near impossible because the smallest bit of vibration causes heat. after a short enough ammount of time, that heat will allow more particles to vibrate. this will increase the heat exponentially. and so on and so forth.
that is near impossible because the smallest bit of vibration causes heat. after a short enough ammount of time, that heat will allow more particles to vibrate. this will increase the heat exponentially. and so on and so forth.
Thats my point. Thats exactly why its so hard to do.
You should keep in mind that once you reached this point it would spread rapidly, reaching absolute zero at one point would mean the entire Universe simply freezing.
You should keep in mind that once you reached this point it would spread rapidly, reaching absolute zero at one point would mean the entire Universe simply freezing.
Wait why would it do that? Could you explain in more detail, or provide a link?
Well, the concept is sort of like the half-life of nuclear elements. You will always get closer and closer to having no "radioactiveness", however you will take half forever. Absolute Zero is the point where whatever the object is loses its volume, as all the matter stops moving, which is only possible in theory.
It's not really a theory that you can't get colder than 0 degrees kelvin, it's logic. There's a point where the molecules in an atom are completely still, and that is at 0 degrees kelvin.
My teacher once told us the reason, although i don't remember what it was. All i remember is that for a reason i can't remember, it would take an infinite amount of energy to hold a particle still enough to reach absolute 0.
Absolute Zero has almost been reached in the form of Bose-Einstein Condensates.
Sorry, can't provide a link, it was something my chemistry teacher told us, so I was going by his word. I think he said it acted similarly to an endothermic reaction.
An object has to lose heat to get cold, and heat is produced by movement. If movement stops, then heat stops and the object wouldn't be able to get colder because it wouldn't be able to lose anymore heat, do to the fact that there is jo more movement.
We haven't found a way to get to 0 K and as far as we know, the Universe never got to 0 K either. But maybe one day...
Btw, if all movement stops, does that mean that the object (living or not) would not be affected by time anymore?
Sorry, can't provide a link, it was something my chemistry teacher told us, so I was going by his word. I think he said it acted similarly to an endothermic reaction.
Oh ok.
Btw, if all movement stops, does that mean that the object (living or not) would not be affected by time anymore?
I think so. Because by stopping movement it wouldn't do anything and so it wouldn't be part of the events around it. Until something interacted with it and spread it's energy to it I suppose. Like if it was hit by a photon. But it would be hard to get it to stop. There are lots of forces involved.
