4 ms·

> "It's the speed of cooling." Maybe I missed it but did the article actually define this "speed of cooling"?

• lutusp 10y ago
  The "speed of cooling" is a layman's way of describing the rate of temperature change. For two connected masses at different temperatures, that rate is described like this: Q(t) = Δq * e^(-t * f) Q(t) = temperature a time t Δq = initial temperature difference t = time, seconds f = heat transfer efficiency factor e = base of natural logarithms (2.71828...) If you plot this equation (http://i.imgur.com/DiZsY0G.png http://i.imgur.com/DiZsY0G.png), you realize that the rate of cooling depends on the remaining temperature difference, and as the difference declines, so does the rate. This means both the temperature difference, and the rate, can never become zero. The linked article addresses some more deep reasons why one can never achieve absolute zero, but this well-known and conventional (i.e. non-quantum) equation is a sufficient reason.
  • Splendor 10y ago
    Thank you!