Absolute temperature

Absolute temperature is a temperature scale used in thermodynamics and physics. It is measured in kelvin (K), a unit of measurement named after the British physicist William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin. The kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale, starting at absolute zero, the theoretical temperature at which all molecular motion ceases.

Definition

Absolute temperature is defined as the measure of temperature independent of the properties of a specific system. It is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and is crucial in understanding the behavior of gases and the laws that govern them, such as the ideal gas law and Charles's law.

Absolute Zero

Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature, at which the particles of a substance have the least possible energy. On the Kelvin scale, absolute zero is 0 K. This is equivalent to -273.15 degrees Celsius or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kelvin Scale

The Kelvin scale is a temperature scale that is based on absolute zero. It is widely used in scientific and engineering contexts because of its absolute nature. The Kelvin scale does not use degrees, unlike the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales. Instead, temperatures are simply referred to in kelvins.

Importance in Thermodynamics

Absolute temperature plays a crucial role in thermodynamics, the branch of physics that deals with heat and temperature and their relation to energy and work. It is particularly important in the study of ideal gases, where it is used in the calculation of pressure, volume, and number of moles of gas.

See Also

• Temperature
• Thermodynamics
• Kelvin
• Absolute zero
• Ideal gas law