What is Cold: Definition and 394 Discussions

Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception. A lower bound to temperature is absolute zero, defined as 0.00 K on the Kelvin scale, an absolute thermodynamic temperature scale. This corresponds to −273.15 °C on the Celsius scale, −459.67 °F on the Fahrenheit scale, and 0.00 °R on the Rankine scale.
Since temperature relates to the thermal energy held by an object or a sample of matter, which is the kinetic energy of the random motion of the particle constituents of matter, an object will have less thermal energy when it is colder and more when it is hotter. If it were possible to cool a system to absolute zero, all motion of the particles in a sample of matter would cease and they would be at complete rest in this classical sense. The object would be described as having zero thermal energy. Microscopically in the description of quantum mechanics, however, matter still has zero-point energy even at absolute zero, because of the uncertainty principle.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. E

    Why do people get very cold shortly before death?

    Why do terminally ill people become very cold hours before death?
  2. Salvador

    Space Cold | Why No Matter Means No Heat

    I was wondering what is the reason why space is so cold ? My own answer would be that because there is no matter , or almoust no matter so almoust no atoms. then i thought but there is sun and lots of energy source which radiate EM energy on various frequencies , but since there is almoust no...
  3. BhreaghI

    Your Thoughts on the Most Sustainable 8x15 Trailer for Cold Climates

    I am trying to design an extremely efficient and sustainable, roadworthy, mobile house(on a trailer) for use in Canada's North. The climate this house will be located in is -50 degrees Celsius lows in the winter, and +30 Celsius highs in the summer. Very high wind all year round. 24 hr daylight...
  4. Psinter

    What Temperature is Cold for You? 76°F, 69°F, 90°F or More?

    For me 76°F is cold and at 69°F I begin to shiver. I'm used to temperatures ≥ 90°F almost every day. In fact my room has been lately getting at 94°F at night while 86°F at the outside of the house (at night). Therefore, I'm very sensitive when it comes to drops in temperature. Anyway, what...
  5. R

    Finding the Final Temperature of Hot Coffee in a Cold Cup

    Homework Statement (c11p34) You pour 160.0 g of hot coffee at 75.0 oC into a 230.0- g glass cup at 24.0 oC. If they come to thermal equilibrium quickly, what is the final temperature (in oC, enter deg in asnwer box)? Assume no heat is lost to the surroundings. Homework Equations (I don't even...
  6. rogerk8

    How come heat sinks are cold by the touch?

    Hi! I wonder what makes the often black "painted" aluminum heat sinks for electronics cold by the touch? To me a shiny heat sink would work better because then all the incoming wavelengths are reflected. A black heat sink would however absorb all the incoming wavelengths because that is by...
  7. X

    Mathematical Analysis on Cold Dark Matter

    Hi Guys, Can anyone provide links, books which explain the mathematical background of the field theory that explains the current accepted ^CDM model of the universe? Thanks Adarsh
  8. nsaspook

    News Convicted Cold War spy John Walker dies in federal prison

    http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/29/justice/cold-war-spy-dies/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 Finally. Now it's time for Whitworth to go. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Whitworth These people got a lot good men killed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hccc-t-ZumQ
  9. N

    Hot Air to Cold Oil Heat Exchanger

    Working on a project where we have been asked to utilize waste heat from a combustion process in order to increase the temperature of oil in a separate process. The hot air from combustion is at 340C and the oil is at 22C with a target temperature of 65C I have not seen any hot air heat...
  10. Y

    Hot water freezing faster than cold water

    This question has puzzled me for a long time and there have been many kinds of answer for it. The most sensible explanation I have heard is this one. http://physics.stackexchange.com/a/33026/40382 But then I found another explanation at...
  11. marcus

    CMB cold spot explanation proposed (looks good)

    Joe Silk is one of the co-authors. One expects large voids in the distribution of galaxies because of the cobwebby way dark and ordinary matter have condensed. A large void comparatively close by (within a few billion LY of us) could cool ancient background light passing thru on its way to us...
  12. C

    Understanding the Process of Cold Welding

    Can someone explain the process?
  13. R

    Why is there water on a cold bottle?

    Hello , I was always wondering about this phenomenon : when i take out a cold bottle from the refrigerator , after a few seconds (lets say at room temperature) the bottle is surrounded by water. the question is - why is it? where did the water come from ? is it should happen with...
  14. N

    Can Heat Flow from Cold to Hot?

    If heat flow is the momentum change from a faster moving atom or molecule to a slower moving one, and momentum is mass x velocity is it possible - for a very limited amount - for heat to flow from a slower (colder) heavy atom to a faster moving (hotter) atom ?
  15. basheer uddin

    Balloon gets cold when stretched quickly,why?

    did anyone observe that a balloon gets cold when stretched quickly,why?
  16. Gannet

    I don't understand why appetite is reduce during cold weather

    I just read Source: http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/winter/wintcamp.shtml#Food This counters my intuition Can someone explain this to me? Thanks
  17. Chronos

    Dark energy and the CMB cold spot

    Two papers went up today regarding infrared all sky surveys by WISE and 2MASS that affirm the CMB cold spot - http://arxiv.org/abs/1405.1555, A Supervoid Imprinting the Cold Spot in the Cosmic Microwave Background; http://arxiv.org/abs/1405.1566, Detection of a Supervoid Aligned with the Cold...
  18. C

    How can polarity of AC inverse but keep the live hot and neutral cold?

    In an AC circuit, we know that the polarity inverses, and what i know is that the flow of current also will therefore inverse.. which means that the live will become negative and the neutral will become positive.. What i can't understand is how the polarity inverses but the live is still the hot...
  19. L

    Exploring Phosphorescence in Gelatin, Celluloid, Paraffin and Ivory

    gelatin, celluloid paraffin and ivory all exhibit phosphorescence at lower temperatures why is that?
  20. D

    Efficient Hot & Cold water combination for bathing

    Generally for bathing purpose, we heat water to higher temperature say T1 than the temperature at which body is comfortable say T0 (is T0 = 70 degree Celsius?) & add some quantity of cold water to it to have the temperature of water = T0. Is the process energy efficient? What is the best...
  21. ninja

    Why is the universe considered as cold?

    Why do many claim the universe as a cold place? If it is the natural phenomena then how does formation of stars take place?
  22. O

    Pinch valve, chance of cold welding silicone tube

    Hi everyone, In a current project, I'm curious about the risk of silicone tube cold welding when used with a solenoid pinch valve, such as = http://cfnewsads.thomasnet.com/images/large/454/454667.jpg What is the likelihood silicone tube will cold weld at the pinch point, if the pressure is...
  23. Spinnor

    Fluctuations of the CMB, symmetry between the hot and cold?

    Consider any of the latest maps of the temperature fluctuations of the CMB. Such a map can be considered a 2 dimensional topographical map of the surface of a sphere, high points hotter, low points cooler. Consider the contours that divide such a map into the two regions, fluctuations hotter...
  24. J

    Does Cold air cause more Air Resistance?

    I know that Cold Air is more dense than the warm air, so for example: If a car was accelerating facing a hot air, it will face less air resistance. But if it was facing a Cold air, it will face more air resistance because the cold air contain more mass per volume for each particle. It will face...
  25. Pythagorean

    Cold Capacity: Exploring the Opposite of Heat Capacity

    "cold capacity" We are taught the notion of heat capacity in undergraduate physics and how different materials can hold a different maximum of heat energy per unit volume. Is there an opposite notion? Obviously heat is energy, so cold is just lack of it... but my intuition tells me that if I...
  26. I

    Keeping Food Cold on a Long Summer Trip: Solving the Ice Melt Problem

    Homework Statement You are going on a long trip in the summer with a dessert that must stay cold. You have a cooler with the interior dimensions measuring 13 in x 8.5in x 11 in. The cooler has 1.75 in of polyurethane foam insulation. The dish is in a water tight container so food getting wet...
  27. J

    Space Cold: Is a Vacuum of Space Really Cold?

    If someone stepped out into the vacuum of space, would it really be cold? Wouldn't you need an atmosphere to feel the heat or cold? Say your in intergalactic space. Approximately how fast would it take to freeze to death? I am assuming the only way your body heat could leave would be through...
  28. Z

    Jet Engine performance in Cold Weather

    Hey guys. I was studying up jet-engines and their performances with varying ambient temperatures and found myself stuck on something that is probably very trivial. What I've read online and in my notes is all generally the same - that as temperature falls air density rises and as such more...
  29. E

    Hot water freezes faster than cold?

    http://www.iflscience.com/chemistry/hot-water-freezes-faster-cold-and-now-we-know-why I thought that this had never been shown to happen with closed containers. I always thought that this was an issue of open containers allowing for evaporation and hence a smaller amount of frozen water, and...
  30. A

    Energy problem dealing with heat extracted from cold air

    Homework Statement A heat pump requires 385 W of electrical power to deliver heat to your house at a rate of 2410 J per second. How many joules of energy are extracted from the cold air outside each second? Homework Equations COP= Qc / W . This was the only equation I could find...
  31. D

    Preventing Pipe Freeze in Cold Weather

    Hi Guys, I am not an engineer and was hoping someone could help me with a question I had about piping in cold weather. I am setting up a temporary 4" Bauer water pipe that I need to keep from freezing. It will be outside (non insulated) in February in Ohio. I am expecting temperature...
  32. D

    Show heat flows from hot to cold bodies

    Homework Statement Consider two systems which together comprise an isolated system, but are initially not in equilibrium with each other. The temperatures of the two systems are T_1 and T_2 and the internal energies are E_1 and E_2. The systems are separated by a diathermal wall and only...
  33. M

    Alcohol in beer would evaporate extremely slowly in cold temperatures?

    I'm guessing the alcohol in beer would evaporate extremely slowly in cold temperatures like a fridge. I hear a lot of people say otherwise, so I'm wondering if it even evaporates a noticeable amount in 24 hours?
  34. S

    Can a Thermocouple's cold junction can be electrically manipulated

    Can a Thermocouples cold junction can be electrically manipulated. Can a Thermocouples cold junction can be electrically mimicked to be a colder one; thus is it possible to make refrigerator out of thermocouples? electrons flow from hot to cold junction right ? can anyone give me link to more...
  35. S

    Cold & Hot Wind: What's the Difference?

    What's the difference between cold moving air and hot moving air? For instance, suppose you put two fans, of the same type, each in one room. One room is cold because the walls are covered in ice and one room is hot because due to the effect of heaters. Turn both fans on and the air flow, the...
  36. S

    Why Does Spray Deodorant Feel Cold When Applied?

    Recently I was wondering why deodorant is cold when its comes out of the spray can. Some explanations say that it is because of a change in pressure. But looking at the ideal gas law T = PV/nR and both n and R are constant. And for every decrease in pressure there should be an increase in volume...
  37. T

    Why Is There Cold Wind? Investigating the Creation of Wind and Its Temperature"

    So awhile ago I was thinking about wind. Sometimes wind is hot but when I think of wind I usually think of cold wind. Wind seems to be fast moving particles and I know based on the kinetics theory of gases KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 = \frac{3}{2}kT Maybe, I'm making a wrong assumption but...
  38. ShayanJ

    Exploring 'Cold' Electrons & Plasma Oscillations

    In some texts about plasmas, the plasma oscillations are discussed at the extreme of no Thermal motion. One example is the one in wikipedia: But I can't accept that approximation.Because it is assuming that we have a kind of motion called thermal motion and other kinds which arise from other...
  39. N

    A single atom in a cold, closed, vacuum system.

    Let us assume there is a single atom in a vacuum chamber which is kept at near absolute zero. Now assume the system is closed and that the chamber is large enough such that the atom cannot diffuse far enough to reach the walls. Neglecting other stochastic effects, what do you think the atom's...
  40. A

    How to attach cold trap to base plate?

    Hi, I am trying to think of a way to attach my water baffle/cold trap to the bottom of my base plate. The baffle is attached to a diffusion pump, meaning that I need a good seal between the plate and the baffle. I was thinking about drilling holes in the baffle and half way through the base...
  41. W

    Lithium Dioxide Cold Fusion Reactor model, is it feasible?

    i'm leaning towards sustainable and renewable energy sources, upon seeing the Ironman film of Jean Favreau, i come to theory that maybe the arc reactor that Stark industries manufactured and designed is quite feasible through cold fusion reaction... is it possible? if it is, please provide any...
  42. T

    Passive Adiabatic Effect: Cold sky reflection on IR imagery.

    I am currently in training to become an analyst using thermal imagery. In the studies I have been introduced to cold sky reflection on thermal imagery, however the instructor explained it as a surface 'reflecting the cold from the sky' which, as far as I'm aware, doesn't fit with the second law...
  43. Feodalherren

    Heat rises, why is it cold at high altitudes?

    So I was at a ski-resort last weekend and this question just came to me out of nowhere. Hot air usually rises. Shouldn't that logically lead to high altitudes being warmer than low altitudes?! It's true for the ocean, but air seems to defy this law. Why is that?
  44. Spinnor

    Medical Warning signs a cold virus is trying to take you down?

    Say a pair of twins both feel like they are coming down with a Cold or flu. One twin wisely comes home from work takes a hot shower, warms the house temperature a bit, has a good meal and goes to bed early with her iPad. The other twin heads out to a night club and has the time of her life...
  45. S

    Which freezes faster Hot or cold water?

    Homework Statement I need to find out which freezes faster--hot or cold water--without doing a lab. Just by thinking and considering laws and theories and properties we have learned about. Homework Equations N/A The Attempt at a Solution It seems like it would be cold water since...
  46. S

    Which freezes faster Hot or cold water?

    So this isn't homework, but it is for a class and I don't know how to go about this... I have to figure out if hot or cold water freezes faster. Any ideas?
  47. J

    Why do people associate red with hot and blue with cold

    When in reality, blue light is the higher energy.
  48. V

    Wet vs Dry Cold: Is There Really a Difference?

    Apologies if this has been addressed earlier. A common belief is that a cold temperature (say 0 Centigrade) feels colder when relative humidity is higher. Is there any underlying physical reason for that? As far as I can tell, the differences between dry air's and water vapor's thermal...
  49. J

    Basic Energy Question- Hot and Cold Water

    Why actually does "hot" water freeze before cold water? This sounds very basic but believe me I can't come up with a single feasible reason
  50. lisab

    Warm Beaches, Hot Volcanoes And Cold Back Home

    Just got back home from the Kona side of Hawai'i. Wow. What a freakishly cool place that is! Day one, snorkeling. Saw so many fish...blue, yellow, stripes, red, dots, skinny, long, buck-toothed, bug-eyed, orange, green,...wow. Just, wow. Day two, long hike along beach. Admired the flowers...
Back
Top