Single Idea 17475

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / F. Chemistry / 1. Chemistry]

Full Idea

Having a particular average kinetic energy is only a necessary condition for having a given temperature, not a sufficient one, because only gases at equilibrium have a well-defined temperature.

Gist of Idea

For temperature to be mean kinetic energy, a state of equilibrium is also required

Source

Weisberg/Needham/Hendry (Philosophy of Chemistry [2011], 6.2)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.35


A Reaction

If you try to pin it all down more precisely, the definition turns out to be circular.