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Absolute zero is the theoretical temperature at which all substances have zero thermal energy. Originally conceived as the temperature at which an ideal gas at constant pressure would contract to zero volume, absolute zero is of great significance in thermodynamics and is used as the fixed point for absolute temperature scales. Absolute zero is equivalent to 0 degrees Kelvin, -459.67 degrees F, or -273.15 C.
The velocity of a substance's molecules determines its temperature; the faster the molecules move, the more volume they require, and the higher the temperature becomes. The lowest actual temperature ever reached was two-billionth of a degree above absolute zero. It was achieved by a team at the Low Temperature Laboratory in the Helsinki University of Technology, Finland, in October, 1989.
Having a limiting temperature has several thermodynamic consequences for example at 0 kelvin all molecular motion does not cease there is just no energy available for transference to other systems it is therefore more accurate to say that at absolute zero molecular energy is minimal if we say that all substances have zero energy this is a violation of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal so it is impossible to have zero energy.

The opposite of absolute zero is called Planck Temperature.

As of now it is the highest possible temperature that matter can exist at.
It is approximately 1.41679 x 10^32 Kelvin.
Beyond this temperature everything turns to energy, all subatomic particles break down and become individual black holes destroying space and time.
The universe has already reached this temperature once during the first instant of the Big Bang.



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13y ago
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14y ago

Scientists figure that -273C is the coldest any element could get. If it became any colder it would halt atomic rotation any become something else.

This may be a means for time travel. CIV.

Absolute zero is a theoretical minimum temperature. It's impossible to get that low, but we can get very close to it. At such low temperatures superconductivity and super-fluidity are evident.

Although there is still molecular movement at absolute zero, there is no possibility of transferring any energy. If you cannot get any more energy out of it, the temperature cannot get any lower, thus it is the absolute minimum temperature.

Absolute zero is -273.15ºC on the Celsius scale, 0K (zero K) on the Kelvin scale and −459.67°F on the Fahrenheit scale.

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16y ago

Absolute coldest temperature is the temperature beyond which any object cannot go colder. This is the temperature after which there is no heat energy left in the substance. The molecular movement comes to an absolute standstill with relative to the rest of the body and hence no heat gets generated. This is also called zero-point energy. In 1848, Lord Kelvin published a paper in which he stressed the importance of inventing a scale that would start at the point of absolute coldest temperature. The zero degree on the Celsius scale started at the point where water froze and the hundred degree mark came up where liquid water became water vapor. So this scale was more with relative to water's properties rather than an absolute scale which is independent of any substance. Lord Kelvin's paper on the Absolute Thermometric Scale stated that the absolute coldest temperature which is -273 on a Celsius scale.

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12y ago

-273oC is called absolute zero as it is the coldest temperature to which anything can be made.

From my memory of school, I think:

The temperature of something is roughly a measure of the vibration of the atoms of the substance. Any moving thing has Kinetic energy and so temperature is a rough measure of the kinetic energy of the atoms.

When temperature is decreased the vibrating atoms vibrate less and so lose kinetic energy. Alternatively this can be thought of when the atoms vibrate less, they lose kinetic energy and so the temperature drops.

When they stop vibrating, they have no more kinetic energy to lose and so the temperature cannot fall any further. This happens at about -273oC

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13y ago

Because it is defined that way. Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature - the temperature when atomic movement stops, and atoms don't have other kinds of energy which contribute to what is called "temperature" either.

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Q: Why is -273 C is called absolute zero?
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What is it called when molecular motion stops?

Absolute zero is the theoretical temperature at which all atomic motion stops. However, this temperature is unattainable, because it represents a complete lack of energy within particles of matter. Even in deep space, this temperature cannot be reached so, like the speed of light, it is a scientific limit which can only be approached. On the Kelvin scale it's 0, on the Celsius scale it's -273.16.


What were the initial and final temperature of water in kelvin scale?

I think you might have wanted to tell us a little more information. It may be of use to know that absolute zero, 0 K = -273 C; the freezing point of water 0 C =273 K, and the boiling point of water, 100 C = 373 K


Does all molecular motion stop at zero celsius?

All molecular motion stop at cease at : (1) -459 degrees in FAHRENHEIT SCALE (2)-273 degrees in CENTIGRADE SCALE and on zero at kelvin scale. For more details ,contact at saqibahmad81@yahoo.com


What is the lowest scale in Celsius?

The lowest possible temperature on the Celsius scale is -273.15 °C. This is the same as 0 K on the Kelvin scale, which is the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature. This temperature is called absolute zero, because it is the point where all molecular motion stops.


What is the kelvin system?

In the Kelvin system 0 is set at he coldest possible temperature which is called absolute zero. Each degree kelvin is equal to a degree Celsius. The freezing point of water is 273.15 K so absolute zero is -273.15 deg C. There can be nothing colder than 0 K.

Related questions

Is absolute zero the same as -273?

Yes, absolute zero is equal to -273°C. -273.15°C actually


What is the temperature of absolute zero measured C?

-273 C


What is celsius temperature at absolute zero?

-273.15 is the absolute zero on the Celsius scale.


What is the freezing point of electrons?

-273 C is absolute zero


Is -273 celsius temperature of absolute zero?

-273.15 C to be exact.


What is the lowest temperature that can theoretically be achived?

absolute zero: -273'C


What is an acceptable value for Absolute zero in Celsius?

-273 deg C


What are objects that don't have energy?

Objects at absolute zero, -273 degrees C.


What corresponds to absolute zero is 0 C or 0 K or negative273C or negative273 K?

Absolute zero is 0 Kelvin, or about -273 Centigrade.


What is the value of 0 kelvin?

Zero degrees Kelvin is the theoretical temperature at which all molecular motion stops. It is called Absolute Zero. It is equal to -459.4*F and -273*C


What is -273 Celsius in Fahrenheit?

-273 °C is - 459.5 °F *Absolute zero (0 K) is -273.15 °C or -459.67 °F


What is lowest temperature that the substanc can reach?

Temperatures can approach, but never reach, absolute zero. This is about -273 degrees C.