Atoms in Physics: The Mechanical Theory of Heat
Empirical observation: The internal energy of a gas increases linearly with the temperature, extrapolating to zero pressure at a temperature of -273°C.
- Gas consists of atoms in motion.
- Temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of the atoms.
- Therefore, energy goes to zero when the motion of the atoms cease leading to the notion of an “absolute zero of temperature”
- Temperature scale above “absolute zero” called Kelvin scale for its discoverer Lord Kelvin
- RECALL – random motion of atoms is the basis for understanding the second law of thermodynamics