Question

At what Celsius temperature does a gas possess zero kinetic energy?

Short answer

At -273.15°C, a gas has zero kinetic energy.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Kinetic Energy and Temperature

Kinetic energy in gases is related to temperature. At absolute zero, the gas particles theoretically have no movement, which corresponds to having zero kinetic energy. This is the point where temperature is 0 Kelvin.

Convert Kelvin to Celsius

The conversion formula from Kelvin to Celsius is given by: \[ C = K - 273.15 \] Since absolute zero is at 0 Kelvin, we substitute to find the temperature in Celsius: \[ C = 0 - 273.15 = -273.15 \] So, a gas possesses zero kinetic energy at -273.15 degrees Celsius.

Key concepts

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy that an object has due to its motion. To visualize this, think about the chaotic dance of gas particles zipping around. The speed and mass of these particles determine their kinetic energy. The faster they move, the more kinetic energy they have! In gases, this is closely tied to temperature; as temperature increases, so does the kinetic energy of the particles.
This leads us to an important concept: absolute zero. Absolute zero is the temperature where the kinetic energy of particles approach zero, meaning they theoretically stop moving. However, reaching absolute zero is practically impossible due to quantum mechanical effects that keep particles in motion. But it's crucial to understand that as we cool particles down to this point, their kinetic energy drops significantly, reflecting the direct relationship between temperature and kinetic energy.

Temperature Conversion

Temperature conversion is the process that allows us to express the same temperature in different units. This is essential because different scientific fields and countries use different scales, like Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. Kelvin is significant in scientific discussions because it starts at absolute zero, while Celsius starts at the freezing point of water (0°C).
Understanding temperature conversion is key to translating real-world conditions into observations and predictions in scientific terms. For example, scientists often use Kelvin when discussing thermodynamics. As such, knowing how to convert between various temperature scales enables effective communication and understanding of thermal phenomena globally.

Kelvin to Celsius Conversion

The Kelvin and Celsius scales are closely related, and converting between them is straightforward. The main difference is that Kelvin is an absolute measure of temperature starting at absolute zero, whereas Celsius is relative to the freezing point of water.
To convert a temperature from Kelvin to Celsius, you apply the equation: \[ C = K - 273.15 \] where \( C \) is the temperature in degrees Celsius and \( K \) is the temperature in Kelvin. This formula arises because 0 Kelvin corresponds to -273.15 Celsius. This simple subtraction reflects the difference in zero points between the two scales. By mastering this conversion, you can easily interpret temperatures between these two units, especially when analyzing scientific data or conducting experiments.