Open AccessThe physics of temperature
Author(s) -
B M Gardner
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
southern african journal of anaesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.175
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2220-1173
pISSN - 2220-1181
DOI - 10.36303/sajaa.2020.26.6.s3.2538
Subject(s) - kinetic energy , boiling point , heat capacity , absolute zero , thermodynamics , triple point , degree (music) , chemistry , volumetric heat capacity , freezing point , boiling , heat transfer , physics , heat flux , classical mechanics , acoustics
Heat: a measure of the total kinetic energy of a body. Measured in joules (J). It depends on the mass of the body and the specific heat capacity of the body.Temperature: a measure of the average kinetic energy within a body. It describes the potential for heat energy to move from one body to another down a gradient from an area of high temperature to an area of lower temperature. It is measured using a temperature scale which is defined against fixed physical events such as absolute zero or the triple point of water.Heat capacity: the amount of heat energy necessary to be added to an entire body to increase the temperature by one degree Kelvin (J/K).Specific heat capacity: the amount of heat energy necessary to be added to one kilogram of a body to increase the temperature by one degree Kelvin (J/K/kg).Absolute zero: a hypothetical temperature at which all molecular movement stops (zero kinetic energy). This is not possible in reality.The ice point: this is the temperature at standard pressure (101.3 kPa) at which water exists in both a solid (ice) and a liquid form. Designated as 0 oC or 32 oF.The steam point (boiling point): the temperature at standard pressure (101.3 kPa) at which water exists in botha liquid and a vapour form. Designated as 100 oC or 212 oF.Triple point of water: the temperature at a pressure of 611 Pa (0.006 atm) at which water exists in a solid (ice), liquid and a vapour form. Designated as 0.01 oC.