If heat is a vibration of particles, why isn't empty space at absolute zero?

Answer 1

More accurately, temperature is a measurement of the energy with which matter vibrates. In "empty space" there is no matter to vibrate, therefore no temperature exists at all. Matter otherwise surrounded by empty space would, however, drop in temperature as it radiated heat, thus giving the impression that the space around it was cold.

Answer 2

Heat is vibration of particles, but the catalyst for making those particles vibrate can be many things, from friction to chemical. One such catalyst, light, is constantly passing through almost every area of the universe at all times, and when this light impacts matter, heat results. However this heat is irrelevant to our conversation, because your asking about empty space (which is almost impossible to find and/or create). The fact is this:
How do we know the temperature of an area of space, or more accurately how far from absolute zero it is, without introducing some piece of matter that is designed to determine the information we seek? The introduction of such a device would receive impacts from the light passing through said space field, corrupting the temperature reading.
The point of this is that empty space does have a temperature close to ab zero (not ab zero due to dark energy radiating heat), empty space is an improbable eventuality, and if it did or does ever happen no-one will be there to observe it. besides that, space is not empty and thus is not ab zero.
as a side note, particles are a vibration of impure energy, and are only seen because the energy is moving at the speed of light giving the illusion that it is material. Therefore, even matter is just space that is not empty, and thus is not ab zero.

Answer 3

Because there would have to be absolutely no heat anywhere... even in empty space, there are still billions and billions of stars around the empty space creating heat. Therefore, it could be a billionth of a degree but never absolute zero.

Answer 4

Because heat is not vibration of particles. Your statement is wrong.

Heat is a measure of free energy in a system, and is related both to the idea of energy and to the idea of entropy.

Space is an excellent vacuum - far better than anything that we can achieve on Earth. But it is filled with photon and other high energy particles.

These photons are primarily in the radio part of the spectrum. The temperature of these photons is an almost uniform 2.7K (plus or minus 1 part in 100,000 wherever you look in the Universe).

Answer 5

In theory, even a true, absolutely pure vacuum would have a tiny, positive temerperate due to the quantum effects of virtual particle pairs popping in and out of existence. Some theorize that a vacuum has a small but intrinsic enery, known as the "vacuum energy" or "dark energy" which accounts for about 70% of the observable universe's mass (mass & energy are equivalent as related by E=mc^2).

Answer 6

Absolute Zero is like the speed of light - you can approach it, but it can never be reached.
As for space it is filled with both partciacals and radiation. For one theing the Comsmic Microwave Background radiation(leftover radiation from the Big Bang) is spread out (almost) uniformly throughout the universe and it is currently a little over 2K degrees above absolute zero.

Answer 7

Where have you seen empty space? Only vacuum is devoid of matter. Had you checked the temperature inside vacuum? Also remember you cant take a mercury thermometer which has a minimum of 0 celsius. You need to measure 0 kelvin. All the best.

Answer 8

empty space is at absolute zero, but space isn't entirely empty. it's full of random particles.

Answer 9

Because outer space is not truly a perfect vacuum. It's as close as we can get, but there are still a few particles in every cubic parsec.

Answer 10

there is no such thing as empty space. there is a term but still we found no signs of empty space