Talk:Absolute zero

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Isn't "reached" the functional equivalent of "measured" ? The idea is when you shine a light in there to see if the atoms are still jiggling, the light makes the atoms jiggle. Mega 23:55, 10 April 2009 (EDT)

I suppose that would be. But the important thing is that we can't reach absolute zero, and it's not because of the uncertainty principle. Fall down

I don't think so. "Reached" is making something that cold, "measured" implies calculation, I think - as in, we can't get there, but here's the limit. ħuman 00:18, 11 April 2009 (EDT)

Zero point energy is from the uncertainty principle. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/hosc4.html It is the wp:Nernst heat theorem that says you can't ever reach absolute zero. A math to english translation of the theorem is "by no finite series of processes is absolute zero attainable" For those who like imperial units, 0 Rankine = 0 Kelvin... but a degree Rankine is the same as a degree Farenheight. --Shagie 00:41, 11 April 2009 (EDT)

I misspelled Fahrenheit in a puzzle the other day and it slowed me down for a bit. Luckily, I retained some zero-point energy and rectified my error. ħuman 21:23, 18 April 2009 (EDT)

Herschel

"...the Herschel Space Observatory has to be cooled further to 1.4K with 2,000 litres of liquid helium despite being in the depths of space." Despite being in space? I thought that one of the biggest problems for spacecraft is overheating, as there is no medium for conduction. --Droxxor (talk) 13:59, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

Depends on what's on board, but generally, without anything else they'll try to come to equilibrium with the background temperature, so yes, it's "despite" because although space is cold, it just isn't cold enough for Hershchel's instruments. ^gnostic 16:15, 23 April 2012 (UTC)

Even though there isn't a medium for conduction, the spacecraft can radiate to cool, or absorb radiation to warm. Conduction is not the only path to thermal equilibrium. Mcnamara12 (talk) 14:17, 15 August 2012 (UTC)

Absolute hot

The following was removed, only for being Wikipedia plagarism when WatcherintheDark removed content from Snopes as well. Wikipedia references are acceptable for use in science journals so long as the content is reworded an arbitrary amount. I will include a reworded version to meet this arbitrary number.

Scientists speculate that the highest possible temperature nowadays is the Planck temperature. Models estimate that the universe has passed through this temperature about 10⁻⁴² seconds following the Big Bang as a result of enormous entropy expansion.<ref name=pbs>Tyson, Peter (2007). "Absolute Hot: Is there an opposite to absolute zero?". PBS.org. Archived from the original on 6 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-11. </ref> This value is assumed to be the highest temperature because conventional quantum physics relies on Planck's law which implies a lower limit for the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. <ref name=pbs>Tyson, Peter (2007). "Absolute Hot: Is there an opposite to absolute zero?". PBS.org. Archived from the original on 6 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-11. </ref> Above 10^32, particle energies become so large that there is no existing scientific theory for the behavior of matter at these energies. Gravitational forces between them would become as strong as other fundamental forces, requiring a hypothetical theory of everything for description.<ref>Hubert Reeves (1991). The Hour of Our Delight. W. H. Freeman Company. p. 117. ISBN 0-7167-2220-8. "The point at which our physical theories run into most serious difficulties is that where matter reaches a temperature of approximately 10^32 degrees, also known as Planck's temperature. The extreme density of radiation emitted at this temperature creates a disproportionately intense field of gravity. To go even farther back, a quantum theory of gravity would be necessary, but such a theory has yet to be written." </ref> (See the Wikipedia article on Absolute hot.) At 10^10 K electrons approach the speed of light, becoming more massive, so their temperature can continue to rise. At 10^32 K each particle of matter becomes its own black hole, and the usual understanding of space and time is at an beginning end." <ref> http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/807/what-is-the-opposite-of-absolute-zero </ref>

In my opinion, this suggested text, with or without plagiarism, isn't relevant. It does describe something on the continuum of temperature, but this article is focusing only on one end of the continuum. An article on the best tasting ice cream wouldn't need to also discuss the taste of horse shit. Just one opinion. MarmotHead (talk) 17:24, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

I agree this is irrelevant to the article. Please stop cramming in irrelevant stuff just because you find it interesting. Perhaps interestingwiki might be a good host for your interests? Sophie^Wilder 19:19, 24 October 2014 (UTC)

Crank Ideas

There should be a few crank ideas somewhere about Absolute Zero. Anybody know of any?Benn (talk) 12:47, 6 May 2018 (UTC)