Is it because the velocity of one water molecule relative to the other water molecules is low? When I stick my hand into a cold stream, why do I feel that it’s cold even though the water is moving fast into my hand? Shouldn’t the water flowing fast mean more collisions with my hand (which I thought is how we sensed temperature)?
In: Physics
The macroscopic movement does not factor into the kinetic theory of temperature, it is the average kinetic energy from an independent frame of reference stationary to the object/liquid/gas you’re looking at. Otherwise temperature would be completely dependent on the frame of reference – any water stationary from your point of view is still moving at 30km/s from the sun’s point of view, should that mean the water is extremely hot?
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