Cosmic microwave background temperature is about 2.7K. But what temperature we will measure in space using a simple Kelvin thermometer in the shadow? Can it be lower than 2.7K?

empalhaviyt

empalhaviyt

Answered question

2022-08-12

Cosmic microwave background temperature is about 2.7   K. But what temperature we will measure in space using a simple Kelvin thermometer in the shadow? Can it be lower than 2.7   K?

Answer & Explanation

Sanai Douglas

Sanai Douglas

Beginner2022-08-13Added 13 answers

It's relatively simple to calculate temperatures in space because since there is no air, there is no heat conduction or convection. A body in space can only absorb heat by absorbing radiation, and can only lose heat by radiating.
The CMB behaves like a black body with a temperature 2.725   K, so any body in equilibrium with it will also be at this temperature. If there are no other sources of heat your thermometer will have the same temperature as the CMB. However it's hard to achieve this. You could argue that you could shade your thermometer from the Sun, but whatever you use as a sunshade will eventually heat up and start radiating, and it will then heat your thermometer. The only way you'd get your thermometer down to 2.725   K would be to put it in interstellar space or possibly even intergalactic space.

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