Temperature is the measure of average kinetic energy of an object

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Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of particles in an object, but throwing a pencil case does not significantly change the average kinetic energy of its molecules. The kinetic energy of individual molecules remains approximately the same despite the object's increased speed. Temperature is applicable when an object is in thermodynamic equilibrium, where energy is evenly distributed among degrees of freedom. While a thermometer moving with the pencil case would show no change in temperature, real-world factors like air drag and friction can affect temperature readings. Ultimately, significant speed changes could lead to noticeable temperature variations due to energy dissipation.
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Temperature is the measure of average kinetic energy of an object.
If I put a thermometer in a pencil case, and I throw the pencil case away, the reading does not change. However, the kinetic energy of any particles of the pencil case did vary. Why?
 
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The effects are negligible...?

I'm not too sure what you meant by throwing it away.
 
Increase its speed;
 
The average kinetic energy of the molecules is barely affected by the throw.
 
why? ??
The speed of the object increased
 
But the average kinetic energy of each individual molecule is approximately the same.
 
Note also that temperature is used to describe an object in thermodynamic equilibrium. If all of the atoms and electrons are moving at the same velocity, then the energy is not equally divided among the degrees of freedom. Thus, this would not be well described by a "temperature". You could, however, describe the energy as a linear combination of a total translational kinetic energy and a thermal energy with the same temperature as that measured at rest.
 
& if you want to measure its tempreture,the thermometer would fly with it,therefore there'll be no kinetic energy to the thermometer,so the figure will retain the same,isn't it?
 
The speed of the moving pencil case is negligible compared to the speed of the atoms flying around.
 
  • #10
dreamfly said:
& if you want to measure its tempreture,the thermometer would fly with it,therefore there'll be no kinetic energy to the thermometer,so the figure will retain the same,isn't it?

That's another good point. Since physics is invariant under Lorentz transformations (in other words, we switch to a frame moving with the thermometer and case), then a throw at a constant velocity in a vacuum should give the same temperature measurement as at rest. In real life, though, there would be air drag and friction forces dissipating the kinetic energy of the case and thermometer, effectively thermalizing the energy. Thus, if you throw it fast enough, you will eventually notice a change in temperature (don't forget that fast-moving objects will often "burn up" in the atmosphere).
 
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