It is possible for a substance to get a lower temperature below 0K.Question 6Answera.Trueb.False

Question Analysis

The question is about the absolute temperature scale and whether a substance can have a temperature below absolute zero (0 K).

Relevant Concepts

1. Absolute Zero: The lowest possible temperature, defined as 0 Kelvin (K), which corresponds to -273.15 degrees Celsius (°C). At this point, the motion of atoms theoretically comes to a complete stop.
2. Negative Temperature: While temperatures below 0 K do not exist in classical thermodynamics, certain systems in statistical mechanics can exhibit behaviors described as "negative temperatures." This does not mean they are colder than absolute zero, but rather that they have a higher entropy than systems at infinite temperature.

Analysis and Detail

1. Thermodynamic Definition: In thermodynamics, reaching temperatures below 0 K is impossible according to the principles of physics as it would require an infinite amount of energy to remove all thermal energy from a substance.
2. Statistical Mechanics Perspective: In some cases, systems can behave as if they are at a "negative temperature" when the population of higher energy states exceeds that of lower energy states. However, this phenomenon does not equate to a true temperature lower than 0 K.

Verification and Summary

In conclusion, while negative temperatures exist in specific quantum mechanical contexts, they do not imply a temperature lower than absolute zero in a conventional sense. It is fundamentally impossible for a substance to reach below 0 K.

Final Answer

b. False