Do Atoms vibrate even at Absolute zero?

Question

My lecturer once told that atoms in proteins vibrate even at zero kelvin so as to bring up a net interactive energy (Van der Walls). But i am not able to accept.. please help.

He also cited a paper from a journal which quoted with in brackets that atoms do vibrate at absolute zero ie -273.15 deg celsius..

Answer 1

Now, I'm not extremely educated on the subject, but its my understanding that absolute zero is only a theoretical limit and could not actually be reached. Beyond this, its not theorized that atoms do not move, its said they will not move more then they are required to by zero-point energy.

So I would venture to say he is correct, but it would be something to discuss with him.

Answer 2

yes atoms never stop moving wtf dont have people doing ur homework

Answer 3

No, if absolute zero could be reached, there would bo no motion of any kind.

Answer 4

There are two separate things going on here.

At absolute zero, the atoms in molecules still have some vibration energy.  If they did not, they would be at rest, at the equilibrium position from their neighbours.  This would imply a known momentum (zero), and a known position (the equilibrium position), in violation of the uncertainty principle.

The forces between molecules from all parts of molecules, that you're thinking of, are called London dispersion forces. They are one type of Van der Waals forces, and arise from the mutual interaction of electron clouds. This is connected to the distribution of electron probability density in space (more accurately, the distribution of probabilities of different distances between electrons), which also derives from quantum mechanical uncertainty, but does not require anything that you would normally think of as "vibration".

You can find out more under "zero .energy" and "dispersion forces" in Wikipedia.

Answer 5

This is an interesting question. I would think that they couldn't move at all at absolute zero. Any friction would cause even the smallest amount of heat and then you wouldn't be at absolute zero.  

Answer 6

I did Physics at University and we were informed that at Absolute Zero atoms did not vibrate and were at rest.

This is why absolute zero can never be reached as if the atoms are at rest then they violate the Heisenberg uncertainty principle (both the exact position and momentum of a particle can never be known).

People have got atoms close to absolute zero, but no one has managed to get an atom to absolute zero. If they had, they would have been awarded a Nobel prize on the spot.

If you know the paper I would be interested in looking at it.

Answer 7

No!!! They Don't. At 0K, an atom loses all its Kinetic Energy viz.it doesn't vibrate.D lecturer thing you said doesn't make sense because we've never attained 0k . D journal he cited must be wrong.

Answer 8

yes they do, but VERY slowly