Exploring Absolute Zero: What Happens When We Reach It?

[SaudAlt]

i am in the 9nth grade and i am intrigued by the idea of Absolute zero and the phenomenas, my question is what will happen if we reach absolute zero? i know that molecules slow down until they stop, but i don't understand one thing, what is keeping the atoms together, isn't it energy. is there energy within the atom? , what will happen if it losses that energy wouldn't it loss its properties? and if it does, what will it be called by then, because it wouldn't be an atom no more?.

 

[NobodySpecial]

Atoms are held together in molecules by the electrical attraction between the negative electrons and the positive nucleus.
This isn't affected by low temperatures, at high temperatures molecules can break apart into individual atoms because their motion is enough to break these bonds.

Absolute zero only really describes the motion of atoms and molecules in a gas - and even then this is an simple picture

 

[JaredJames]

I'd start by reading here for a basic understanding: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_zero

As far as I'm aware, absolute zero doesn't exist as a possible temperature to attain - you physically can't reach it.

 

[Ramael]

As you approach absolute zero, there are changes in the properties of matter. Its called a Bose–Einstein condensate. Einstein demonstrated that cooling bosonic atoms to a very low temperature would cause them to fall (or "condense") into the lowest accessible quantum state, resulting in a new form of matter. This includes forms like superfluids and phenomenon including quantized vortices.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bose–Einstein_condensate

 

[pmacias]

Hello,

Thank you for your interest in the concept of Absolute Zero. It is a fascinating topic and one that has puzzled scientists for centuries.

To answer your question, let's first understand what Absolute Zero is. Absolute Zero is the lowest possible temperature that can be achieved, at which point all molecular motion stops. This temperature is equal to 0 Kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius.

At this temperature, all atoms and molecules would have the least amount of energy possible, and therefore, they would not be able to vibrate or move. This would result in the loss of all thermal energy, and the atoms would come to a complete stop.

Now, to address your question about what keeps the atoms together at Absolute Zero, the answer lies in the fundamental forces of nature. Atoms are held together by strong nuclear forces, which are much stronger than any other force. These forces are responsible for keeping the positively charged protons and neutral neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom. These forces do not require energy to hold the atom together; they are a fundamental property of matter.

So, at Absolute Zero, the atoms would still be held together by these strong nuclear forces, and they would not lose their properties. However, it is important to note that reaching Absolute Zero is theoretically impossible as it would require an infinite amount of energy to remove all thermal energy from a system.

In summary, if we were to reach Absolute Zero, the atoms would come to a complete stop, but they would still be held together by fundamental forces. This state is known as a Bose-Einstein condensate, which is a unique state of matter that exhibits quantum properties. It is an exciting area of research for scientists, and we are still learning more about it.

I hope this helps answer your question. Keep exploring and asking questions, and who knows, maybe one day you will be the one to unlock the mysteries of Absolute Zero.

Best of luck in your studies,