Absolute Zero: Definition, Behavior of Gasses and Equations

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Absolute zero temperature is the measure at which a particle experiences the least amount of temperature. Because it is zero on the Kelvin scale, an absolute zero is also known as the zero kelvin. Absolute zero has a temperature of 459.76 degrees Fahrenheit and a temperature of – 273.15 degrees Celsius. According to thermodynamics, the temperature of an object/particle depends on the velocity at which the atoms and molecules of the object oscillate. It is the lowest temperature however, it is not the lowest enthalpy state.

Read more: Angular Momentum

Table of Content

Temperature
Absolute Zero
Behavior of gasses at absolute zero
Absolute zero formulas
Things to Remember
Sample Questions

KeyTerms: Absolute zero, Enthalpy, Kelvin, Gas particles, Ideal gas, Thermometer

Temperature

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In physics, temperature is regarded as the physical quantity employed to measure the hot or coldness of a substance. It represents thermal energy of the body/object. The SI unit of the temperature is Kelvin. Heat and temperature are not the same. Every field uses temperature as a fundamental measuring metric. A tool used to gauge temperature is a thermometer. Scales to temperature are as follows.

Celsius Scale (⁰C)
Fahrenheit Scale (⁰F)
Kelvin Scale (K)

Absolute Zero

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The lowest temperature at which a substance can exist without any heat energy is absolute zero. Given that it is zero on the Kelvin scale, absolute zero is often referred to as zero kelvin temperature. Fundamental elements of nature exhibit minimal vibrational motion at this temperature.

The temperature of absolute zero is a theoretical metric. The following are some notable temperature records:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology set a record-low temperature of 700 nK (billions of kelvin) in 1994. (NIST).
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recorded a temperature of 0.45 nK (billions of kelvin) in 2003.

Behavior of Gasses at Absolute Zero

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As particles of gas start to slow down, temperature gets colder. The particles cease to move at absolute zero, but they still contain energy. The only quantum mechanical, zero-point energy-induced particle motion that molecules and atoms of matter retain is the lowest vibrational motion.

According to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, precise measurements of subatomic particles are impossible. A particle cannot be entirely stopped in order to determine its precise position and momentum. Hence, it is not feasible to have an enthalpy level lower than absolute zero.

The behavior of a gas at various temperatures are as follows:

At lower temperatures, gasses compress as temperature reduces.
At constant pressure, ideal gas reaches zero volume.
At a certain temperature above absolute zero, real gas condenses to a liquid or a solid.
Ideal gas law helps to predict the behavior of real gas.

Absolute Zero Formulas

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The most important component of a measuring instrument like a thermometer is the temperature scale. The zero degree mark is the scale's starting point. The freezing point is 0 degrees, whereas the boiling point is 100 degrees.

The Rankine (R) scale is the absolute scale that corresponds to the Fahrenheit scale. Both the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales' zero points denote the identical physical state. The relationships between the relative and absolute temperature scales are given by the equations below:

Kelvin to Celsius

K = °C + 273.15

°C = K – 273.15

Rankine to Fahrenheit

R = °F + 460

°F = R – 460

Read more: Vapor Pressure

Things to remember

An absolute zero is also known as the zero kelvin.
Absolute zero has a temperature of 459.76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Absolute zero has a temperature of – 273.15 degrees Celsius.
It is the lowest temperature however, it is not the lowest enthalpy state.
The SI unit of the temperature is Kelvin.
Ideal gas law helps to predict the behavior of real gas.

Sample Questions

Ques. What is absolute temperature? (1 mark)

Ans. The lowest temperature at which a substance can exist without any heat energy is absolute zero.

Ques. Mention the different scales to measure the temperature. (3 marks)

Ans. Different scales to measure the temperature are as follows:

Celsius scale (°C)
Fahrenheit scale (°F)
Kelvin scale (K)

Ques. Define Temperature. (2 marks)

Ans. Temperature is regarded as the physical quantity employed to measure the hot or coldness of a substance.

The SI unit of temperature is Kelvin (K).

Ques. Give the equation for ideal gas (2 marks)

Ans. An ideal gas equation is given as follows:

PV = nRT

Where,

P = Pressure

V = Volume

R = Gas constant

T = Absolute temperature

Ques. Who discovered absolute zero? (1 mark)

Ans. Guillaume Amontons, french physicist discovered the existence of absolute zero.

Ques. State the absolute zero in the third law of thermodynamics. (1 mark)

Ans. According to third law of thermodynamics, The entropy of a perfect crystal at absolute zero (zero Kelvin) at a temperature is equal to zero,

Ques. What is symbol used to represent absolute zero? (1 mark)

Ans. 0 K is used to present absolute zero where K is Kelvin.

Ques. What is the behavior of gas at low temperature? (1 mark)

Ans. At low temperature gas compresses

Ques. Can anything move in absolute zero? (2 marks)

Ans. The particles stop moving and all disorder vanishes at zero kelvin or minus 273 degrees Celsius. Therefore, on the Kelvin scale, nothing can be colder than absolute zero.

Ques. Define absolute zero and absolute scale of temperature. Write the relationship between ⁰C and K (2 marks)

Ans. Absolute zero is – 273 °C. The value on the Celsius scale can be converted to the Kelvin scale by adding 273 to it.

Example: 20°C = 20 + 273 = 293 K

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.
View Solution
2.
Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.
View Solution
3.
What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?
View Solution
4.
Suppose a pure Si crystal has \( 5 \times 10^{28} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \). It is doped with \( 5 \times 10^{22} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \) of Arsenic. Calculate majority and minority carrier concentration in the doped silicon. (Given: \( n_i = 1.5 \times 10^{16} \, \text{m}^{-3} \))
View Solution
5.
If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.
View Solution
6.
Two small identical metallic balls having charges \( q \) and \( -2q \) are kept far at a separation \( r \). They are brought in contact and then separated at distance \( \frac{r}{2} \). Compared to the initial force \( F \), they will now:
- attract with a force \( \frac{F}{2} \)
- repel with a force \( \frac{F}{2} \)
- repel with a force \( F \)
- attract with a force \( F \)
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Absolute Zero: Definition, Behavior of Gasses and Equations

Temperature

Absolute Zero

Behavior of Gasses at Absolute Zero

Absolute Zero Formulas

Things to remember

Sample Questions

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.

2.
Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

3.
What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?

4.
Suppose a pure Si crystal has \( 5 \times 10^{28} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \). It is doped with \( 5 \times 10^{22} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \) of Arsenic. Calculate majority and minority carrier concentration in the doped silicon. (Given: \( n_i = 1.5 \times 10^{16} \, \text{m}^{-3} \))

5.
If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.

6.
Two small identical metallic balls having charges \( q \) and \( -2q \) are kept far at a separation \( r \). They are brought in contact and then separated at distance \( \frac{r}{2} \). Compared to the initial force \( F \), they will now:

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Absolute Zero: Definition, Behavior of Gasses and Equations

Temperature

Absolute Zero

Behavior of Gasses at Absolute Zero

Absolute Zero Formulas

Things to remember

Sample Questions

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.

2.Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

3.What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?

4.Suppose a pure Si crystal has \( 5 \times 10^{28} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \). It is doped with \( 5 \times 10^{22} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \) of Arsenic. Calculate majority and minority carrier concentration in the doped silicon. (Given: \( n_i = 1.5 \times 10^{16} \, \text{m}^{-3} \))

5. If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.

6.Two small identical metallic balls having charges \( q \) and \( -2q \) are kept far at a separation \( r \). They are brought in contact and then separated at distance \( \frac{r}{2} \). Compared to the initial force \( F \), they will now:

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

1.
Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.

2.
Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

3.
What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?

4.
Suppose a pure Si crystal has \( 5 \times 10^{28} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \). It is doped with \( 5 \times 10^{22} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \) of Arsenic. Calculate majority and minority carrier concentration in the doped silicon. (Given: \( n_i = 1.5 \times 10^{16} \, \text{m}^{-3} \))

5.
If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.

6.
Two small identical metallic balls having charges \( q \) and \( -2q \) are kept far at a separation \( r \). They are brought in contact and then separated at distance \( \frac{r}{2} \). Compared to the initial force \( F \), they will now: