What is Temperature: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses hot and cold. It is the manifestation of thermal energy, present in all matter, which is the source of the occurrence of heat, a flow of energy, when a body is in contact with another that is colder or hotter.
Temperature is measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various temperature scales that historically have used various reference points and thermometric substances for definition. The most common scales are the Celsius scale (formerly called centigrade, denoted as °C), the Fahrenheit scale (denoted as °F), and the Kelvin scale (denoted as K), the last of which is predominantly used for scientific purposes by conventions of the International System of Units (SI).
The lowest theoretical temperature is absolute zero, at which no more thermal energy can be extracted from a body. Experimentally, it can only be approached very closely (100 pK), but not reached, which is recognized in the third law of thermodynamics.
Temperature is important in all fields of natural science, including physics, chemistry, Earth science, astronomy, medicine, biology, ecology, material science, metallurgy, mechanical engineering and geography as well as most aspects of daily life.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. yecko

    Superheater - pressure and temperature distribution

    Quoted from the O&M manual of an electrical steam superheater: "The Steam Superheater has eight thermocouples of the NiCr-Ni type, known as "K," attached to the heating element sheath. Four of these thermocouples are positioned near the steam outlet nozzle, where the highest temperature is...
  2. A

    Equation of resistance from given graph

    From the graph: $$lnR(T)=\frac{-lnR(0)T^2_○}{T^2}+lnR(0)$$ I have assumed ##R(0)## to be the value of ##R## at ##1/T^2=0## and ##T_○## to be the value of ##T## at ##lnR(T)=0## From this I get, $$R(T)=e^{lnR(0)×\left(1-\frac{T_○^2}{T^2}\right)}$$ $$R(T)=R(0)^{\left(1-\frac{T_○^2}{T^2}\right)}$$...
  3. M

    I Experiment on the variation of weight with temperature

    Hello ! According to what I have read on the internet, the weight of a body varies with temperature, its mass remaining unchanged according to the theory of relativity. My question is what experiment is done to corroborate that the weight of a body increases with the increase in its...
  4. J

    B Temperature of Solar Wind: Complexities of Measuring Heat in a Stream of Particles

    I read that the solar wind is a stream of particles, primarily electrons and protons, flowing out from the sun at speeds as high as 900 km/s, and at a temperature of 1 million degrees. Using the equipartition theorem, I calculate that a proton moving at 900,000 meters per second exhibits a...
  5. Dante Meira

    B Speed of sound in steel at different temperatures?

    Is there a formula to calculate the speed of propagation of sound waves through steel (a steel bar, for example) according to the temperature of steel?
  6. S

    I Calculation of temperature changes (heating a cube in a microwave oven)

    Hello guys, I am currently running an experiment in my hobby room: I want to heat a cube in a microwave and then measure the surface temperature. Unfortunately, it takes about 20 seconds, so the cube cools down during this time which means I don't measure the actual temperature after heating...
  7. J

    What happens to the IR radiation that the Greenhouse gases don't absorb?

    I have been searching for the answer yet – as I'm here – didn't find it. The current model of climate warming says the lower parts of Earth's atmosphere don't allow the IR radiation to escape freely to the outer space because the GH gas molecules keep absorbing it virtually as soon as it's been...
  8. L

    B What would happen to perception if temperatures almost reached absolute zero?

    Say there was something that made the temperature of the universe almost absolute zero, but around you was a mini bubble where the temperature was normal, and therefore molecules could move normally around you for a small area. How would you perceive the world around you outside of the little...
  9. K

    Furnace Temperature Adjustment

    How to incorporate deviation -9.2C in furnace, while its measured temperature is 909.2C and Display temperature is 900. if there is no option of offset in controller. What will be the set temperature to achieve 900C.
  10. C

    I Thermodynamic temperature scale and Carnot cycle

    Hi all, recently I started following the MIT course "Statistical Mechanics I: Statistical Mechanics Of Particles" by MIT (here). In the second lesson Prof. Kardar introduces the concept of thermodynamic temperature analyzing the behavior of two Carnot engines that share a thermal reservour at...
  11. Z

    Log-log graph of resistance against temperature for a carbon resistor

    (a) (b) Here is a plot of this function T of R It seems that as the resistance goes up the temperature goes down. Not sure what to make of this physically speaking. My question is about the requested log-log graph. Above we have a function T of R, but we want a function ##\log{T}## of...
  12. Sasho Andonov

    B What is the Volume of the Plasma Inside the LHC During Particle Collisions?

    Could someone provide an ainformation what is the temperature inside the Large Hadron Collider (or similar systems) where the colision of particles happens? THANK YOU!!!!
  13. Z

    Calculate ideal-gas temperature of a material

    Here is the table As far as I can tell what we have here are four constant-volume thermometers (each column represents a thermometer). These thermometers work by having a certain constant volume of some specific gas in a bulb. We immerse the bulb in whatever temperature we would like to measure...
  14. eneacasucci

    I Variation of air temperature with altitude

    Considering the approximation of perfect gas, I don't understand why at higher altitude the temperature is lower. Intuitively it is clear to me, but I do not understand the kind of transformation that takes place; the gas is free to expand and the pressure too is not constant, since it decreases...
  15. Z

    I Constant length metallic wire as a thermometer, using tension?

    I posted another question about a thermodynamic system with three coordinates, namely, that of a metallic wire. We can describe that system with temperature, wire tension, and wire length. The result derived in that question was that the partial derivative of wire tension relative to absolute...
  16. Z

    I Empirical temperature scales using different thermometers

    It took me a while to understand (I think) the concepts below. I have two questions. 1) What does "absolute" mean in the term "absolute temperature scale"? 2) What is the difference between the two constant-volume hydrogen gas thermometers (one at high pressure the other at low pressure)...
  17. T

    I Relation between change of pressure and temperature in adiabatic process

    In case of adiabatic process, we all know that the relation between temperature and pressure and that's given below: P. T(γ/(1-γ)) = Const. therefore, P = Const. T(γ/(γ - 1)) or, ΔP = Const. (γ/(γ - 1)).ΔT(1/(γ - 1)) It's just an attempt to find out the relation. Don't know how much correct I...
  18. B

    How do we derive the Earth's yearly mean temperature?

    I'm new to this. I would like to know how we derive the earth's yearly mean temp. I assume there are thermometers all over...
  19. H

    The effects of absolute zero temperature

    I can visualize gas molecules, contained in a vessel, randomly bouncing into each other. As temperature increases, the collisions occur more rapidly. I suppose this also applies to liquids. I'll guess that a liquid's boiling point is where the molecular collisions become so violent that...
  20. xpell

    B At what distance would a Venus-like planet have a HZ temperature?

    Well... that: Please, could you please assist me in obtaining a rough estimate of the distance from the Sun at which a planet resembling Venus or a hypothetical Venus-like planet (for the sake of simplicity) would have a habitable-zone surface temperature? A "back-of-the-envelope" educated...
  21. E

    Details regarding the high temperature limit of the partition function

    My main question here is about how we actually justify, hopefully fairly rigorously, the steps leading towards converting the sum to an integral. My work is below: If we consider the canonical ensemble then, after tracing over the corresponding exponential we get: $$Z = \sum_{n=0}^\infty...
  22. C

    Why must we use absolute temperature for the Ideal Gas Law?

    For this problem, The solution is, However, why must we use absolute temperature for the ideal gas law (i.e why can we not use Celsius for T) Many thanks!
  23. Roger Dalton

    Dependence of Hall coefficient on temperature in semiconductors

    My first assumption is that the temperature dependence on the mobilities can be neglected, and so we would have: $$R_H(T)= \frac{1}{e} \frac{p_v(T)\mu_h^2-n_c(T)\mu_e^2}{(p_v(T)\mu_h+n_c(T)\mu_e)^2}$$ The expression for the electron and hole densities could be derived from...
  24. E

    Photoluminescence at lower temperature of carbazole

    Hello everyone, I deposit a thin film of HTM based carbazole and I measure the PL at lower tempertaure . by fiiting the experimental results with 5 peaks . I notice the dissapering of peak 1 at 300K and peak 3 at 200K. What is the nature of the interaction that can occur at lower temperature of...
  25. A

    Oven controller block diagram, transfer function and temperature calcs

    FIGURE 5 shows an electrically heated oven and its associated control circuitry. The current, I, to the oven's heating element is fed from a voltage-controlled power amplifier such that I = EK1. A voltage, VD, derived from a potentiometer, sets the desired oven temperature, TD. The oven...
  26. S

    Experiment about diode related to temperature and potential difference

    (a) I know some of the apparatus needed for the experiment, such as DC power supply, ammeter, voltmeter, maybe rheostat. But I don't know how to change the temperature of diode. What is the correct and safe way to change the temperature of diode? Thanks
  27. H

    A Determination of electron temperature in an ion source

    How to correctly determine the temperature of electrons in an ion source based on ECR? Is it possible to use the Saha equation? ##\frac{n_en_i}{n_a}=\frac{g_eg_i}{g_a}*3*10^{21} T^{3/2} e^{-J/T}## Using the search, I found the McWhirter criterion for the applicability of the formula above: ##n_e...
  28. Wrichik Basu

    Any advice to make this Op-Amp temperature controller circuit work?

    As part of our UG curricula in Physics major, we have a practical in which we have to draw the calibration curve of an NTC ##10~\mathrm{\Omega}## thermistor, and then construct a circuit to maintain the temperature of a water bath. The calibration curve of our thermistor. The Prof. said that...
  29. dextercioby

    I Interpretation of temperature in liquids/solids

    Usually, the mental image of temperature is: an internal property of a bulk of matter, which typically describes the average kinetic plus rotation/vibration energy of molecules, so we imagine a gas in which temperature is a measure of how quick molecules are, and how frequently they collide one...
  30. Thomas_Kellner

    Change in temperature of air in a closed system

    Looking at the given values, I thought the specific heat formula could be used to calculate the final temperature of the air: c = Q/mΔT. Since the final temperature is the sum of the initial temperature and the change in temperature, the formula can be rearranged to ΔT = Q/m*c. Q = 30 W * 10 s...
  31. Ebi Rogha

    Gas temperature in a constant volume

    An insulated container (constant volume, adiabatic) contains an Ideal gas with pressure P1 and temperature T1. We open the container's hatch for a few seconds and let some particles escape from the container, then we close the hatch again. We know container's pressure has reduced by exiting...
  32. C

    Thermal expansion of square from temperature increase of 50K

    For this problem, The solution is, I understand their logic for their equation, but when I was trying to solve this problem, I came up with a different expression: ##\Delta A = \Delta L_x\Delta L_y## ##\Delta L_x =\Delta L_y = \Delta L## since this is a square. ##\Delta A = \Delta L^2##...
  33. H

    Temperature after closing the valve

    I have the following task and I am not getting anywhere: A steel tank with 15 m³ volume, well insulated from the outside, contains air at a temperature of 288 K and a pressure of 1 bar. It is connected to a compressed air line via a valve that is initially blocked. which constantly supplies...
  34. F

    A Average temperature in a greenhouse

    Hello everyone, since several weeks, no response from the other forums, I tried to compute a simple model for a greenhouse in a garden. First idea was to compute mass transfer, Navier-Stokes and heat equation all together but in my knowledge no analytical solution exists.I need to build a simple...
  35. B

    I Time for a cold volume of air to reach a higher air temperature

    I have a cube with a volume of 1000m3 at an initial temp of 290K. The bottom side (10m by 10m) is open to the ambient air. I put this cube into a huge fridge and cool the whole volume by 5K. I close the open side by placing a cover on it. This cube has now got a volume of air at a temperature of...
  36. SamuuLau

    I The effect of temperature on the damping of a guitar string

    I am a high school student and recently I have been working on a project about how temperature affects the frequency of a string emits. I have read blogs like https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/tension-and-frequency-with-change-in-temperature.833185/ and completed the part of thermal...
  37. kamui1

    Solving for degeneracy electron cloud temperature

    When I try P_rel_e = P_ideal I couldn't get a single number that is close to the given T_Max. It might be that I used the wrong equations but I am not sure. Can anyone give me some guidence on this question?
  38. T

    I Microwave background radiation - temperature at recombination

    The commonly called value of the temperature at recombination is 3000 K. According to this reference the process of recombination can be described by the Saha equation: 3.1. Recombination and the formation of the CMB Recombination happens quickly (i.e., in much less than a Hubble time t ~...
  39. dorothy

    Temperature & Gas: Correct or Incorrect?

    (1) Incorrect, since the root mean square speed(c^2)is directly proportional to the temperature, but it will just affect the average kinetic energy, doubling the k.e., but not related to the potential energy. (2) Correct, since the volume of gas is directly proportional to the temperature (3)...
  40. V

    Why is temperature constant after gas has expanded?

    The answer given for part (c) in the back is that temperature doesn't change as the gas in cylinder A expands to fill cylinder B. The thermodynamic system here is composed of the two cylinders A and B joined by some pipe. But, I cannot find a satisfactory explanation for temperature...
  41. S

    Why does decreasing evaporator airflow impact an air conditioner's performance?

    The other day I read on a website that a lower evaporator airflow causes lower low pressure side saturation temperatures and higher delta T on an air-conditioner. Now I think I know why a lower evaporator airflow would cause a high delta T. If there is less air moving over the evaporator, the...
  42. Alexey_H

    Heat loss from the temperature difference

    Hello, My house has some heat loss. As an example I know the outside door temperature. How can I calculate the heat loss delta if I reduce the door temperature by 1 degree? I know that there is a formula to calculate a heat loss based on the U-value of a fabric. But I can't get those values...
  43. Rezex124

    Experiment - how temperature changes along a tube, using heaters

    TL;DR Summary: Help needed with plotting heat maps, using data we gathered in an experiment. Hello, so I'm having problems with analysing data, which we gathered from an experiment we did in class. This is meant as a type of non-guided experiments class, where we are just given an initial...
  44. Z

    A Temperature of HII Gas: Intuitive Explanation

    I have a question about the temperature of HII gas. According to Table 1.3 in Draine's book (physics of the interstellar and intergalactic medium) this temperature is T~10^4 K. I get a similar value by using the Saha equation for a hydrogen gas. However, a naive estimate of the same temperature...
  45. T

    I Temperature change due to mixing liquids, heating and heat losses

    Hello, I am stuck how to proceed with the equations below. The problem: A tank containing ##m_0## mass, with a temperature of ##T_0##, is to be filled with a total mass of ##m_1##, with the constant mass flow rate ##G## and temperature ##T_1## during ##t_p## seconds. ##T_0>T_1##. Other than the...
  46. LCSphysicist

    Diatomic molecule at a constant temperature

    A diatomic molecule ##D_{2}## in ##30K##, in ##t=0##, is in the state ##| \psi (0) \rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{26}}(3 | 1,1 \rangle + 4| 7,3 \rangle + | 7,1 \rangle )##, where the kets denote states ##| l,m \rangle##. Use ##\frac{\hbar}{Ic4\pi}=30.4cm^{-1}##. Obtain ##| \psi (t) \rangle ## I...
  47. C

    Free expansion of Real Gases - Dieterici EoS, Change in Temperature

    I proceeded in the usual manner in which we take ##dU = 0## in the case of free expansion because there is no heat transfer in the box, as well as no work is done. We can write, taking ## U ## as the function of ##V## and ##T##, $$ dU(V,T) = \left( \dfrac{\partial U}{\partial V} \right)_T ~...
  48. G

    I Why is there no frost below a certain temperature?

    It is 21°F here this morning and no frost on anything not even car windows. I have noticed this before when it gets cold enough there is no frost. Maybe all the moisture freezes out of the air and there is no moisture to make frost? I don't know? At what temperature is there no frost?
Back
Top