Will the temperature in the universe ever reach absolute zero?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the future temperature of the universe and whether it will ever reach absolute zero (0K). Participants explore the implications of cosmic expansion, energy distribution, and historical temperature measurements in the context of the Big Bang theory.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the average temperature of the universe will continue to decrease until it reaches absolute zero or if it will stabilize at a certain temperature.
  • Another participant explains that as the universe expands, energy becomes more evenly distributed, leading to a significant drop in temperature, which will asymptotically approach zero but never actually reach it.
  • A third participant emphasizes that the universe must have been hotter in the past, referencing scientific measurements that support this view, while also agreeing that absolute zero will not be reached.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the temperature of the universe will not reach absolute zero, but there are differing views on the implications of energy distribution and the historical temperature of the universe.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nature of energy distribution and the effects of cosmic expansion remain unresolved, and the discussion does not clarify the specific mechanisms that might influence temperature stabilization.

shanu_bhaiya
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Curiously, I want to know that the temperature(average) will go down regularly until it becomes 0K or it will settle down in b/w somewhere of whole Universe

Or, it is depended on some other matter that can not be detected!

10^-43 seconds after big bang the temperature was approx. 10^32 K
And, it is going down gradually.
 
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Two things happen:

1] the energy gets distributed more evenly, until everything is the same temp and no more heat transfer occurs. It will be pretty cold (~4K).

2] the energy gets rarefied. As the universe continues to expand, the temperature on average will drop. It's not because it's cooling per se, it's because the same amount of energy is being spread out over a larger volume. The temp. drop will get slower and slower, and will aysmptotically approach zero (i.e never reach it).
 
As DaveC noted, it will never actually reach absolute zero. But more importantly, it also must have been hotter in the past if BB theory is correct. About 5 years ago scientists found a way to measure what the background temperature was billions of years ago. It was hotter, just as predicted. Here's a trailer:
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0012/24vlthot/
 
shanu_bhaiya said:
Curiously, I want to know that the temperature(average) will go down regularly until it becomes 0K or it will settle down in b/w somewhere of whole Universe
Read this.
 

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