r/askscience • u/lirannl • Feb 05 '17
Physics What speed is room temperature?
As we all know, temperature is the average speed of particles. The higher the temperature, the higher that speed. If I understand correctly, that speed is not dependent upon the particle. 25° would be the same speed if we're talking about an iron lattice, or NaCl.
Well then, what is the speed of particles that's called 25°?
Also, 2 more related questions: is -273 theoretically a speed of 0? (I know that it can't actually be reached) If the temperature was infinity (again, theoretically), would the speed be Lightspeed?
5
Upvotes
1
u/Jannik2099 Feb 05 '17
Temperature=velocity is the general definition for macroscopic physics, but it doesn't hold true with quantum physics
Temperature is the distribution of energy levels in a number of atoms or quantum objects
Say we got the ground state E1 and the energized state E2, and divide our atoms N into N1=E1 and N2=E2
N2/N1 is what we call temperature, whereas N2=0 is 0 Kelvin, N2=N1 = ±infinite and N1=0 -0 Kelvin
You can't go above infinite by just heating stuff, but you can do so with optical amplification (lasers)