Maximum temperature

[desertrat]

Is there a theoretical maximum temperature that could be reached?

[bernardo]

This would probably vary according to which substance it is, but there would be a maximum dictated by the escape velocity of the subatomic particles orbiting around the atomic nuclei, and the velocity of light being the maximum velocity of those particles.

[pezza.......]

I think that is a scientific yes!

[pezza.......]

....or maybe no....... er!!!

[Hamish]

Heat is essencially light (infra red) therefore there is no limit to the intencity you could physically have, just perhaps to how you would create it or contain it.

[sft42]

There is a minimum temperature in absolute zero because temperature is a measurement of the energy the molecules in a substance have (by boiling water we are giving more energy to the water which we can eventually see as it changes form into steam) so if you could keep suppling energy into the reaction then theoretically I suppose the answer is No.

[incitatus]

the answer is a qualified no essentially heat is an energetic measurement starting from 0 K (-273.14 celsius) and working up from there. There is no theoretic maximum to the temperature of a vacuum/peice of matter but you do reach a point at which the energy required to hold the thing at a higher temperature is more than the energy available-anywhere. I havent done the sums so this is a guesstimate but I reckon in the billions of degrees you hit an energy catastrophe requiring you to burn the universe to get the energy to heat one atom.

[incitatus]

ps heat isnt light. heat is energy. ir is just the wavelength of light given off by hot things.

[Hamish]

You may find it surprining incitatus to find that light is a form of enerygy, hence IR is essencially heat. Thermal excitation of a body results in vibrations, osciating dipoles, and therefore IR light. Hamish