Statistical mechanics and probability

[flemmyd]

One of the things I've learned about probability is that it seldom = 0. For example, the probability of a giant meteor hitting Earth is incredibly low, but it isn't zero. Thats why it happened (eventually).

So let's extend this to statistical mechanics. My understanding of (say) a thermometer is the random motion of individual particles hit the probe and transfer energy to it. Statistically speaking, shouldn't there be a time when EVERY molecule points away from the probe and nothing is hitting it --> it reads zero energy? This obviously wouldn't be common, but at SOME point, it should happen.

correct, incorrect?

 

[Pythagorean]

One of the things I've learned about probability is that it seldom = 0. For example, the probability of a giant meteor hitting Earth is incredibly low, but it isn't zero. Thats why it happened (eventually).

So let's extend this to statistical mechanics. My understanding of (say) a thermometer is the random motion of individual particles hit the probe and transfer energy to it. Statistically speaking, shouldn't there be a time when EVERY molecule points away from the probe and nothing is hitting it --> it reads zero energy? This obviously wouldn't be common, but at SOME point, it should happen.

correct, incorrect?

Yes. "SOME point" being much much longer than the heat death of the universe.