Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Low temperatures refer to conditions where heat energy is minimal or significantly reduced, often leading to slower molecular motion and changes in physical properties.
This is theoretically the lowest possible temperature, where all molecular motion would stop. It's like when it gets so cold that even the most die-hard swimmers have left the pool.
A phase change occurs when a substance changes from one state of matter to another due to temperature changes - like water freezing into ice as temperatures drop.
This refers to how much heat energy a substance can absorb before its temperature increases significantly. Imagine some people can stay in a chilly pool longer than others because they have higher "heat capacity".