Absolute Zero and Absolute Accuracy

[The Anomaly]

This is either a topic that is so blatantly obvious that it's ridiculous I'm saying it, or I'm missing something. From my limited physics knowledge, I know that absolute zero is a temperature in which the molecules are not moving whatsoever. In other words, it's the lowest possible temperature, 0 K. We continuously push closer and closer to this temperature, attaining 0.1, 0.000001, 0.00000001, etc.

My question is this. Taking aside any physical reasons why it would be impossible to attain 0K, if it really is, then how would we know that we got there? I mean, we can keep getting smaller and smaller, but if we can never go past 0, then how will we ever prove we can get there? There's no way anyone can measure it to the absolute accuracy--and therefore we could easily be some infinitesimal amount above 0K, but we can't be for certain, as we can never have absolute accuracy.

Does this make any sense?

 

[Andy Resnick]

If I understand what you are saying, the answer is 'because temperature is a log scale in energy' In terms of statistical physics, many systems are characterized by a factor exp(-E/kT).

As a result of temperature being a log scale, there is no way to achieve 0 K. And, it is not true that "absolute zero is a temperature in which the molecules are not moving whatsoever." There is still the zero-point energy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_point_energy

 

[sir-pinski]

Your question makes perfect sense and raises an important point about the concept of absolute zero. While it is true that we can never truly reach 0K due to physical limitations, we can still get incredibly close to it and make observations and calculations based on that. In fact, scientists have been able to reach temperatures within a billionth of a degree above absolute zero.

But you are right in saying that we can never have absolute accuracy in measuring temperature. This is because any measurement involves some level of uncertainty and error. However, with advanced technology and techniques, we can minimize this uncertainty and get very close to the true value of absolute zero.

Furthermore, the concept of absolute zero is not just about reaching a specific temperature, but it also has important implications in understanding the behavior of matter and the laws of thermodynamics. So even if we can never reach it with absolute accuracy, the concept of absolute zero still holds value in our understanding of the physical world.

In summary, while we may never be able to prove with absolute certainty that we have reached 0K, we can still make accurate and meaningful observations and calculations based on our understanding of the concept of absolute zero.