0 Kelvin degrees (-273.15 C/-459.67 F) is absolute zero, the point where thermal energy effectively disappears, even if the kinetic energy doesn't. Matter begins to act strange at those extremely low temperatures, presenting quantum effects such as superconductivity and superfluidity. This is due to the Bose-Einstein condensate, which is a state of matter of weakly interaction bosons, within a confined external potential.
Basically, "A new form of matter at the coldest temperatures in the universe", if you'd like the explanation from the website.
Phenomenon caused by absolute zero temperatures:
Superfluidity. At temperatures very, very close to absolute zero (they have't gotten all the way down, if that's even humanly possible) matter acts as if it has no viscosity at all, and that allows it to flow literally anywhere--including up, for gravity doesn't affect things with zero viscosity.
An example of superfluid going up and over:
(SOURCE. See the liquid at the bottom? It went up and over the rim of the bowl.)
Superconductivity. This is the state of zero electrical resistance. One fascinating property of this is that if there is electricity flowing through a superconducting wire, it will continue flowing indefinitely, provided the wire stays below a critical temperature.
An example of a magnet levitating due to superconductivity (Meissner effect):
(SOURCE)
*****
To learn more about cold, go HERE to check out the NOVA program website.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bose%E2%80%93Einstein_condensate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfluidity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconductivity
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/bec/
*****
Thoughts?
-----The Golden Eagle
53 comments:
Very intriguing as usual. :)
If I remember some of that I shall be doing well:-)
I learn something new everyday! I didn't know a magnet could do that. :)
Very cool post, I mean very cool. ;)
I used (near) absolute zero in a story once. I love the extremes of phyics, strange things happen.
Your mind works in a fascinating way and I am compelled to keep reading. Learning new ways of thinking about things is wonderful. Thank you.
Wow. My mind is reeling from all that info. :-)
Awesome post, I love learning new facts. i'll definitely check out the nova website. Thanks. =)
http://tigeronmybookshelf.blogspot.com/
Fascinating... Who would have thought. Golden, your mind is truly a wealth of information.
Michael
I'm glad for the sun!
Cold is so amazing and scary - that supefluid thing has a mind of its own!!
take care
x
You are so cool Golden. (or should I say COLD?) Thanks for helping me exercise my brain cells today!
Intersting! I love this kind of stuff.
I once knew a kid named Kelvin who was an absolute zero, always overflowing his clothes and easy to shock. And now it all makes complete sense. It was SCIENCE! :)
Thanks, Golden!
These are some fascinating phenomena and they could revolutionize our ways of communication and travel
Hi, I love reading new stuff, and yours is definitely new to me (well, maybe not, but it has been 45 years since I finished college, and I am sure I learned a lot of that then. thanks for the renewal of chilling facts.
Ruby
I think I might be begin to act strangely at that temperature too! Intrigued by things flowing upwards in zero gravity ... V interesting post :-)
All best
Karla
Really interesting stuff. Perhaps I should have taken physics back in high school after all.
Thoughts? I have none about this. Way beyond what my little brain can comprehend at the moment. Right now all it wants to know is if it can have a cookie.
I love science presented in understandable language, especially because it makes it easy to imagine using it in stories. Thanks for an intriguing C-post :)
mereu interesant
That was good, but made my whiskers shiver!!!
Impressive information. :O)
Wow. I had never really thought about this. Now the thoughts are churning.
~2
Excellent post. I loved reading this. :)
My thoughts are mainly I should have listened more to the teachers during science so I'd have something intelligent to say right now! I really enjoyed your post (and the pics!) Thanks!
Wow, now that I understand some of what 'cold' means could you do H for Hot in a similar way. That'd be fascinating too!
Denise<3
L'Aussies Travel Blog A - Z Challenge Posts
Loved this post, and love learning something new (although I'm sure at some point I was supposed to have learned this in high school physics, but w/o a daily use for it, I didn't remember it...lol).
I was learning about superconductivity in science, it is so incredible. In fact, the second picture you posted was the one they used in my text book, LOL.:)
Great post-I find reading pieces like this just spark the imagination - fab!
Lx
Very interesting :) I love the pictures, they're absolutely mind boggling. You sound very intelligent!
This is really interesting! A great choice for C.
That's just awesome! I would have thought that at absolute zero, things would be so cold they would just be inert....who knew?!!!
I love the sciency stuff you teach us:)
I love science posts! C is for cold for me as well - a massive head cold :)
Very cool! Get it? Cool?
::crickets::
Great post!
I love that I learn something every time I read your blog. Its like a really interesting mini- course in everything & anything, minus the worksheets and tests ;)
Well this is above my grade level, please tell me come May there will be NO quiz :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
How cool!
(excuse the horrible pun..hahahaah)
Whoa! I knew I should have studied science a bit more in college!
Cool!
I'm stumped on finding a "C" word, momentarily, that will express my amazement and bewilderment simultaneously - so cool will just have to do!
Now...next lifetime, I'm so coming back as a science mind - it truly is all mind boggling and utterly fascinating.
You write in such a way I feel like I get it - I don't really, but I feel your presentation is, well, straight forward and without a lot of extra stuff thrown in to confuse me.
And finally, you totally made my day when you said my site was worth following - thanks so very much I do appreciate it.
Smiles, Jenny
www.jennypearson.com
Now my brain hurts! lol
I love watching Nova. Thanks for this post, Golden Eagle. That stuff about gravity not affecting things at zero viscosity was fascinating.
Jai
That was a lot of science for 10 p.m.! I feel smarter just looking at the page. Very cool (pun intended).
I think it's fascinating. Science reveals such marvels to us.
Very interesting especially about the liquid.
stranger than fiction... well done, ge :)
Cool! Who knew blogging could be so educational?
Thanks for this post, it took me right back to my chemistry lessons.
Hannah: Thanks!
Jabblog: 0 is pretty much the heart of it--0 Kelvin, that is. :)
Summer: I didn't know it, either!
Holly: LOL. Thank you! :D
Deborah: That sounds very interesting! There are so many possibilities with absolute zero.
Siv: You're very welcome! I'm glad you're enjoying my posts. :)
Shannon: Hope I didn't pack too much in there. :P
Tiger86: Thank you!
You're welcome--I hope you found something interesting there!
Michael: Well, most of it's Wikipedia and the Internet. :P
Old Kitty: That's what I thought when I first heard about absolute zero. Get me some sunshine!
It does!
Ali: LOL. :)
You're welcome.
Angie: I do, too--science has so much potential!
Nate: Poor kid. :P
You're welcome!
Charles: On that line of thinking: I've heard of ways superconductivity could be used for getting electricity to homes--it's much, much more efficient than the usual metal wires, and energy could travel faster.
Ruby: You're welcome! :)
Karla: I wouldn't have thought it possible, even with zero viscosity--it's still matter, after all--but it does.
Thank you!
Sarah: Just watch NOVA. They have some awesome science programs. :D
Carol: It is complicated stuff . . . the part about liquid flowing upward and the Meissner effect I'm still a bit foggy about. :P
Madison: You're welcome! :)
Taio: Thanks!
Brian: And it made my wings shiver. ;)
Madeleine: Hope you find it useful for something--story, maybe?
Tomara: It's pretty impressive that there's a limit to cold. Definitely not something that usually comes to mind!
Well, I feel again that I am truly learning something new each day and especially at your blog...thanks for the information...I say "cool"...
http://timeforabucketlist.blogspot.com/
http://imagesinthought.blogspot.com/
http://the-old-story-tree.blogspot.com/
http://bagladythoughts.blogspot.com/
M: Thank you! I'm glad you did. :)
Jayne: You're welcome!
Denise: Here's some information on it:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/zero/hot.html
Mara: I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I don't have a current use for it either--unless I get some story idea, which isn't impossible. :D
Emily: Wow. But, I guess that makes sense since it does clearly show a magnet hovering in midair. :P
Laura: Thank you!
Emma: I'm glad you liked them!
Thank you. Although, it's probably more like "nerdy", since I love science-y stuff. :)
Heather: Thanks!
The Words Crafter: Quantum effects--quanta keep throwing wild cards when it comes to expected results. :D
I'm glad you like it!
Li: I hope you feel better soon! No fun being sick. :(
Liz: LOL.
Thank you!
C.: I'm glad you enjoy my posts! I love knowing that people find something in what I write. :)
Jules: Nope, no quiz! LOL.
Lynda: Thanks! ;)
Alleged: It's interesting stuff, isn't it?
Jenny: Thank you! :)
I try to make it understandable, without a lot of jargon and extra scientific words--as far as I understand what I'm writing about. Some "quantum" things still boggle my brain . . .
You're welcome!
Trisha: You may want to avoid my "T" post, then . . . just kidding! ;)
Jai: I do, too!
You're welcome!
It's such an interesting phenomenon.
Kari: Thank you! :)
Simon: It does!
Niki: Incredible the way it defies gravity, isn't it?
Laughingwolf: And perfect for fiction. :)
Thank you!
Talli: Thanks!
Tracy: You're welcome!
I'm glad you find something worthwhile in my posts, Margaret. :)
Thank you!
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