this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2026
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Goldilocks (files.catbox.moe)
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[โ€“] echodot@feddit.uk 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

Atoms move in a solid, they just vibrate, in a liquid and glass they fly around. Somewhat bonded to each other in a liquid. But the speed is the same for any given temperature.

In vacuum I think a thermometer will just go to absolute zero/boil off.

[โ€“] Fleur_@aussie.zone 1 points 56 minutes ago

That is just not true mate. A better working definition for temperature is the average kinetic energy of molecules not average speed of them. Smaller molecules such as hydrogen will move much faster than larger ones such as water at any given temperature. KE = 1/2mv^2

And no a thermometer in a vacuum will settle to the ambient temperature of it's environment. Nothing will settle to absolute zero. Either an object is in a true vacuum (theoretical doesn't actually exist) in which case it will remain its current temperature forever or for objects in the vacuum of space it will equalise with the temperature of it's surrounding environment.