Reaching Absolute 100: Maximum Temperature

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter BTruesdell07
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Maximum Temperature
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of a maximum temperature, often referred to as "absolute 100," and its theoretical implications in relation to electron movement and relativistic physics. Participants explore the relationship between temperature, electron speed, and energy, as well as the behavior of matter at extreme temperatures, particularly in plasma states.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that if temperature is related to the speed of electrons, then there should be a maximum temperature corresponding to electrons moving at the speed of light.
  • Another participant counters that temperature is more accurately described by the root mean square (RMS) speed of atoms and introduces the concept of associating temperature with photon distributions, complicating the idea of a maximum temperature.
  • A third participant notes that at very high temperatures, matter exists in a plasma state where electrons and nuclei move independently, and further energy input leads to mass increase rather than a straightforward increase in temperature.
  • Another participant emphasizes that temperature relates to energy per degree of freedom rather than speed, and mentions the breakdown of current physics at Planck energy, suggesting that the equivalent temperatures at that scale would be extremely high.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between temperature, electron speed, and energy. There is no consensus on the existence or nature of a maximum temperature, and the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in current understanding, particularly regarding the behavior of matter at extreme temperatures and the implications of relativistic physics. The discussion touches on the breakdown of established physics at Planck energy, indicating a gap in knowledge about high-energy states.

BTruesdell07
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
If temperature is the speed that electrons are moving around the nucleus of an atom, and nothing but the speed of light can go the speed of light then shouldn't there be a maximum temperature that is possible. Remember absolute zero is the point where the electrons stop moving. So "absolute 100" could be the point that electrons are moving the speed of light. "Absolute 100" would be the same as absolute 0 and only be theoretically possible
 
Physics news on Phys.org
BTruesdell07 said:
If temperature is the speed that electrons are moving around the nucleus of an atom,
Not true. It is more like the RMS speed of individual atoms.
and nothing but the speed of light can go the speed of light then shouldn't there be a maximum temperature that is possible.
Crudely speaking this is true (though not for the reasons stated). But it is also possible to associate a temperature to a photon distribution, and this makes things a little more tricky.

Remember absolute zero is the point where the electrons stop moving. So "absolute 100" could be the point that electrons are moving the speed of light. "Absolute 100" would be the same as absolute 0 and only be theoretically possible
Unforunately, at anywhere near such temperatures, you do not have bound electrons anymore, so this limit will never be seen in the manner you suggest. Nevertheless, there is an upper limit on the photon density that can be achieved in space (without making a black-hole).
 
Last edited:
Very high temperature stuff is usually in plasma form (electrons and nuclei freely moving independently). If you add more energy, it goes into mass increase, since the particles are traveling near the speed of light.
 
BTruesdell07 said:
If temperature is the speed that electrons are moving around the nucleus of an atom, and nothing but the speed of light can go the speed of light then shouldn't there be a maximum temperature that is possible.

Actually, temperature has to do with the energy per degree of freedom, not the speed. And according to relativity, while there is a limit on the speed, there is no limit on the energy.

From a more practical point of view, our physics breaks down at the "Plank Energy", so we have no idea what the equivalent temperatures would be like. Well, they'd be very HOT.

Carl
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Instantaneous dipole moment and orbitals
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Graduate Why is there no maximum temperature?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
15K
Graduate Statistical Mechanics - Maximum Temperature
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
High School What would happen to perception if temperatures almost reached absolute zero?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
High School Traveling through space at zero km/s
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Graduate Empirical tight-binding sp3s* band structure of semiconductors
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Undergrad Can Quantum Effects Prevent Reaching Absolute Zero?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad How far into the Universe can we theoretically reach?
  • · Replies 34 ·
2
Replies
34
Views
6K
Graduate Does electron energy contribute to current
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Python relativity game in python
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K