A Mercury Hammer and the Third Law of Thermodynamics

Показать описание

Armed with a hammer made from mercury, Olympia Brown explains the third law of thermodynamics.

Special thanks to Dave Porter, Jemma Naumann and Joe Burton for their scientific wisdom, and help setting up this demo.

Mercury is beautiful. It’s the only metal that’s a liquid at room temperature and pressure. In its liquid state the atoms have enough thermal energy to overcome the rigid metallic bonds that confine most metals to solids at room temperature.

The third law of thermodynamics links temperature and entropy. Olympia Brown explores this relationship, freezing mercury into its less-familiar solid state to make a tiny hammer.

Рекомендации по теме

Комментарии

2:16 "It's just not possible to completely remove all the thermal energy from within a substance"

You've clearly never been to Leeds in February.

notthatadam

I would really like to know about mercury as a "solvent". I know it dissolves some metals to form amalgams such as sodium and potassium and even gold to a degree enough to stain it. I was wondering if it can do this to all metals given that the temperature is right and there are no oxide layers present. Thanks!

dastgahjoosh

Isn't gallium also a metal that's liquid at room temperarture? pls correct me if i'm wrong

roshanchacko

If entropy is related to temperature. How does it relate to say, electrons. And the idea that eventually the universe will reach a state of zero/1 entropy? I venture to guess this is ultimately related to energy, for instance contained in the strong/weak forces?
Guess I'll have to follow Seth Lloyd's course on entropy one day.

Paretozen

But only the Sith deals in absolutes...

kennethmccormick

better than other presenters on Thermodynamics. MG1

primemagi

I did not get this. On one hand you mention that mercury has enough thermal energy at room temprature to overcome the rigid metallic bonds which is why its a liquid. on the other hand you mention that as we reduce the temprature, the entropy also reduces which is why it turns into a solid. Isnt it as we reduce the temprature by reducing the thermal energy, the rigid metallic bonds make it a solid? If there are no bonds, like a nobel gas, will it still become a solid when cooled?? wait.. is there solid helium?

battleforevermore

Will you be uploading the R.I. Christmas special and if not is there somewhere I can watch it? Thanks in advance

combedpubes

OK so here's a question... In my hand I hold a copper penny.
The penny is at the same temperature as my hand. Is the copper penny frozen?

dancoulson

Mercury is the only elemental metal that is liquid at room temp. and pressure, but there are eutectic alloys such as galinstan that are also liquid at room temperature.

DC-yneb

That's a shame. You could have shown the end of the hammer melting as you used the hammer and the kinetic energy being turned into thermal on each impact.

ArthurEmbleton