Thermal motion is the random motion of particles, which increases with temperature and is studied through thermodynamics. Atomic particles are always in motion above absolute zero, and their motion is governed by laws that mean it is always random and changing.
Thermal motion refers to the random motions of molecules, atoms, electrons, or other subatomic particles. Unlike the visible world around us, the atomic world is in a state of constant motion at all temperatures above absolute zero. The thermal motion of particles increases with the temperature of those particles and is governed by the laws of thermodynamics.
The study of thermal motion is the study of the random motion of particles. Molecules, atoms and subatomic particles do not behave in predictable ways. Unlike the world we see, these tiny bits of matter are almost always in constant motion and don’t follow the same rules as the larger bodies they make up. Electrons, for example, exist in orbitals around the nucleus of an atom. While an electron’s exact location and motion cannot be determined, it is likely that it moves within a certain space, known as an orbital.
Atomic particles remain in constant motion at all temperatures above absolute zero. Absolute zero, also called 0 degrees Kelvin, is equal to -459.67°F (-273.15°C). This is the lowest temperature that exists because it corresponds to the temperature at which atomic particles stop moving.
The thermal motion of a particle is related to the temperature of that particle. Particles at higher temperatures show more motion than those at lower temperatures. This is true for particles in any state of matter, including gases, liquids, solids and plasmas. Although the atoms in a solid are closer together than the atoms in a liquid or gas, there is still room for the atoms to move around.
The thermal motion of atomic particles was first described by physicist Robert Brown. Looking at a small particle, such as a grain of pollen or a piece of dust under a microscope, Brown noticed that the particle appeared to be in a constant state of motion or agitation. The movement of atoms around a small particle causes the atoms to collide with it. This causes the larger particle to move randomly, just like atomic particles do. This type of motion is called Brownian motion.
Thermal motion is studied through thermodynamics, which has a set of laws that govern the random motion of particles. The first law states that matter and energy are always conserved. The second, somewhat paradoxically, states that a return to a previous energy state is impossible because part of the energy escapes from the system and can no longer be used. The third states that absolute zero cannot be reached. Simply put, these laws mean that motion is random motion that never ends and is always changing.
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