# What would happen if you actually reached absolute zero temperature?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 16, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241 "2006-01-16T17:30:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/1 "2006-01-16T17:30:26Z")
Hardcore geek question alert:
I read an article on this a few years ago and it talked about being able to get within a few millionths of a degree of AZ, but made the point that to reach that point the particle(s) involved would have to possess no energy. If that happened would they cease to exist or something? Given that matter cannot be destroyed or created, merely transmuted, is that why you can’t reach AZ?
Given that some particles have things like energy and spin as one of their characteristics, if they had no energy and were stationary then they wouldn’t meet the criteria needed for their own existence, I’m guessing. Have I answered my own question? 😕
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/2 "2006-01-16T17:43:39Z")
We discussed this not long ago. One problem with trying to reach absolute zero is that if you really did, then you’d know precisely the position and momentum of the thjing cooled down.
Y’can’t do that. You’d violate Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, which is bound up in and confirmed by too many other considerations to brush aside. The mere fact that you have your particles confined within your Dewar Flask/vacuum chamber/what-have-you puts an intrisic limit on the uncertainty in momentum your particle _must_ have.
It makes as much sense to ask what barrier has been set up in the East to prevent you from getting to the part of the world where the sun rises.
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### Author:  [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/3 "2006-01-16T17:49:40Z")
Check [these](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=1394600) out.
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### Author:  [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/4 "2006-01-16T17:55:30Z")
Thanks - I guess I should have searched the archives before asking this question. :smack:
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### Author:  [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/5 "2006-01-16T20:37:43Z")
A little off-topic, but this reminds me of something in my third or fourth grade textbook (around 1957 or 58) which clearly stated that if anything was at absolute zero, it would just fall into “dust” (or something…I’m vaguely remembering the accompanying illustration which had people, signs, cars, falling into dust or something like it).
I’m thinking that even in 1957 or 1958, this was known, and the text made a Biiggggg mistake! Too late to call 'em on it, though.
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/6 "2006-01-17T05:37:29Z")
If you reached absolute zero, you would become a minor reference in textbooks. That doesn’t seem, to me, to be a valid life goal. That’s just my opinion, but some people might learn to spell your name right.😉
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2006, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/7 "2006-01-17T07:46:27Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#):
>
> Given that matter cannot be destroyed or created, merely transmuted…
Nicholas Flamel? 'zat you?
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2006, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-actually-reached-absolute-zero-temperature/340241/8 "2006-01-17T08:16:32Z")
What is the coldest possible alcoholic beverage?
Absolut Zero.
(_:: ducks and runs ::_)