Lämpöliikkeen

Lämpöliikkeen, also known as thermal motion, is the random movement of particles within a substance. This movement is a fundamental property of all matter and is directly related to temperature. At absolute zero, particles would theoretically be at rest, but in any substance with a temperature above absolute zero, the constituent particles—atoms or molecules—are in constant, random motion.

In gases, particles move freely and rapidly, colliding with each other and the walls of their container. In liquids, particles are still in motion but are closer together, allowing them to slide past one another. In solids, particles vibrate about fixed positions. The kinetic energy of these particles is what we perceive as heat.

Lämpöliikkeen is the underlying mechanism for many physical phenomena. For example, it drives diffusion, the process by which particles spread from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. It is also responsible for heat transfer through conduction, where vibrations from more energetic particles are passed to less energetic neighbors. The intensity of lämpöliikkeen increases with temperature; as temperature rises, particles move faster and collide more frequently, leading to a greater transfer of energy. Conversely, as temperature decreases, particle motion slows down.