XPost: sci.physics, sci.astro   
      
   In article , pausch@saaf.se (Paul Schlyter)   
   writes:   
   >In article <99b2377f.0312091245.276ba801@posting.google.com>,   
   >Binary Object  wrote:   
   >   
   >> Why is absolute zero approximately -460 F, yet the maximum   
   >> possible amount of heat is seemingly infinite?  There is   
   >> certainly an asymmetry.  Why is there no upper bound for   
   >> heat?   
   >   
   >Because there is a lower bound for speed (zero) but no upper bound   
   >for speed.  And the temperature is essentially the speed at which   
   >each atom/molecule moves around inside the matter.   
      
   Sigh.  No, it is not.  No more so than "energy is essentially the   
   product of volume and pressure":-)  Temperature has to do with the   
   density of available states.  In the special case of classical ideal   
   gas this is proportioanl to the average kinetic energy, per   
   atom/molecule.  This is not a definition, this is a *derived result*   
   for a *special case*.  That's all.   
      
   Mati Meron                      | "When you argue with a fool,   
   meron@cars.uchicago.edu         |  chances are he is doing just the same"   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)