View Full Version : Thermal equlibrium
 
 kesavan
Sep 20, 2010, 09:51 AM
Is it possible for two objects to be in thermal equlibrium if they are not in contact with each other?
 Unknown008
Sep 20, 2010, 10:08 AM
According to this wikipedia article, they must be in contact.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_equilibrium#Thermal_equilibrium
 
So, it implies that it is not possible to have two bodies in thermal equilibrium unless they are in contact.
 
EDIT: Forgot the link, sorry :o
 ebaines
Sep 20, 2010, 10:30 AM
I disagree - two bodies can exchange heat without being in physical contact wiith each other, through radiation and/or convection.
 
EDIT: to be clear, to be in thermal equilibrium two objects must be in thermal contact, meaning they can exchange energy via heat.  But this does not mean that they must be in direct physical contact.