Can you have a high temperature with very little heat?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between temperature and heat, specifically addressing the possibility of having a high temperature with very little heat. Participants explore theoretical scenarios and implications in both classical and quantum physics contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that temperature is the average kinetic energy of molecules, while heat is the total kinetic energy, proposing a theoretical scenario with a single molecule to illustrate their point.
  • Another participant points out that high-temperature gases with low density exist in cosmic environments, providing an example of this phenomenon in the intracluster medium.
  • A participant notes that the relationship between temperature and average kinetic energy is valid in classical physics but raises the issue of its applicability in quantum physics, citing the ideal Fermi gas as an example.
  • Further discussion questions whether one would still perceive temperature sensations in environments with very few molecules, considering quantum theory implications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definitions and implications of temperature and heat, with some agreeing on the classical definitions while others challenge their applicability in quantum contexts. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the sensory experience of temperature in low-molecule environments.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in their theoretical scenarios, including the dependence on the number of molecules and the definitions of temperature and heat across different physical theories.

MaxKang
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From what I know, temperature is defined to be the average kinetic energy of molecules within a system while heat is said to be the total kinetic energy of molecules.

I know this might be something we can never achieve in real life but here's how my thought process went.

Imagine you have a box with radiation shielding such that there is no radiation process involved. If you can somehow suck out all the molecules leaving just one molecule behind, depending on how slow or fast this molecule travels you can have very little "total kinetic energy" with quite high temperature(average kinetic energy). I guess when the molecule bounces off the wall there could be a sudden change in temperature.

I am aware that temperature is only defined when you have a reasonable amount of molecules but if we can somehow come up with the setting I mentioned, then what happens in real life? do we feel hot? cold?
 
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MaxKang said:
From what I know, temperature is defined to be the average kinetic energy of molecules within a system while heat is said to be the total kinetic energy of molecules.

Temperature only equals average kinetic energy (with some caveats) in classical physics. This is not so in quantum physics. Example - ideal Fermi gas.
 
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akhmeteli said:
Temperature only equals average kinetic energy (with some caveats) in classical physics. This is not so in quantum physics. Example - ideal Fermi gas.
But we still should be able to sense how "cold" or "hot" it feels to be in that environment should we not? Does the quantum theory predict that we will indeed feel cold in an environment where there is only a very little amount of molecules?
 

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