Energy of Particle: How to Calculate Joules from Temp

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter PhysicoRaj
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy Particle
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the energy of a particle in joules based on its temperature. It explores theoretical frameworks, equations, and concepts related to temperature, kinetic energy, and statistical mechanics, with a focus on both classical and extreme states of matter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that a single particle cannot have a temperature, as temperature is an ensemble property, but discusses a theoretical scenario involving mono-energetic particles and their energy-temperature relationship.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on the relationship between temperature and the average kinetic energy of particles, asking for the relevant equation.
  • A participant references the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution as a framework for understanding kinetic energy in heated matter, noting its limitations in extreme states like plasmas.
  • There is a request for equations to calculate heat based on temperature and mass, indicating a shift in focus to low-temperature scenarios.
  • One participant humorously suggests that Planck's constant might be relevant for calculating the energy of a moving particle based on temperature.
  • Several participants refer to a link provided in a previous post as a resource for further information, with some noting the absence of a link in one instance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying interpretations of temperature and its relationship to particle energy, with no consensus reached on specific equations or methods for calculation. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to calculate energy from temperature.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about temperature and energy, as well as the applicability of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution in different states of matter. The lack of specific equations or definitions may also affect clarity.

PhysicoRaj
Gold Member
Messages
538
Reaction score
49
How 2 find out the energy of a particle in joules, given it's temperature?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
*A* particle cannot have a temperature, as temperature is a property of an ensemble of particles.

However, if you were to, theoretically, gather a mono-energetic bunch of particles all together, and moving in randomised directions, then the energy/temperature relationship is 1eV=~11605K, and one eV+~1.6E-19J, such that if all the particles each had 1.6E-19J then the ensemble would be at 11,605K.

As soon as you put all those particles together, however, they'd rapidly thermalise (if there were no other means to keep them mono-energetic) into a distribution of energies, but their ensemble temperature would still be 11,605K nothwithstanding any expansion or thermal transfer to a container, or whatever other radiative or absorption means is going on.

Let me know if that answer is helpful, or if there are any points I've not made clear.
 
Thank you for that. Temperature is the average kinetic energy of each particle in matter isn't it? So, say you take some amount of matter and heat it to X degrees. Then each constituent particle should have a Kinetic energy equal to...
Can you give me the equation for this?
 
PhysicoRaj said:
say you take some amount of matter and heat it to X degrees. Then each constituent particle should have a Kinetic energy ...

..that fits into the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell–Boltzmann_distribution

Well, that begins to break down when we start talking about plasmas and other extreme states of matter, but is your starting-point from which you can read up the variations to it, according to how interested you are at progressing your knowledge of statistical mechanics. I'll confess, beyond MB distribution I'll be struggling too, so that's about as much as I can tell you about more complex thermalising distributions.
 
Well. Then I'll switch to low temperature. Is there any equation to find out the heat, given temperature, mass, and anything other important to calculate..
 
Read the link, it should contain all you need.
 
PhysicoRaj said:
How 2 find out the energy of a particle in joules, given it's temperature?

It should come from Planck's constant I hope. :smile: (a moving particle I mean)
 
cmb said:
Read the link, it should contain all you need.

(There's no link!:biggrin:)
 
The link is in post #4, which is more than two years old, by the way. :wink:
 
  • #10
ooooh!
 

Similar threads

High School Can virtual particles turn into real particles? (news about new study)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Probing into protons with high-energy particles
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Graduate Why don't we see super-symmetric particles?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School What are the differences between relict and relic?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K
High School I wonder about a particle's energy when mass is obtained or lost
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
Graduate Where to Find Energy in Joules of Particle Accelerators
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
High School Energy of Up & Down Quarks in Joules: What Are They?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Graduate Calculate the energy-loss straggling of particles using LISE++
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Undergrad How Often Are the Charge and Mass of High-Energy Cosmic Rays Identified?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
High School After the last collider, there is still UHECR
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K