Question map
Which one of the following is the lowest possible temperature?
Explanation
The lowest possible temperature is known as absolute zero, which represents the theoretical point where all molecular movement stops and a system has zero thermal energy. By international agreement, absolute zero is defined as 0 Kelvin (0 K) on the thermodynamic scale, which corresponds to -273.15° Celsius. This value was historically derived by extrapolating the ideal gas law, suggesting that the volume of a gas would theoretically reach zero at approximately -273.15° Celsius. While scientists have achieved temperatures extremely close to this limit, such as 700 nK, absolute zero itself remains a theoretical minimum where matter reaches its ground state and entropy is at its minimum value. Among the given options, -273° Celsius is the closest integer representation of this fundamental physical limit.