An accurate and relatively rapid experiment is presented for the determination of absolute zero. In this work, students use calculator-based technology and the appropriate probes to explore the relationship between the temperature and pressure of a gas held at constant volume. In addition to the immediate visualization of the linear relationship between pressure and temperature, students are able to determine the value of absolute zero from the equation for the best-fit line through the data set. The value for absolute zero was determined to be −271 ± 8 °C (n=23) from the most recent set of trials.
Gordon et al. (Mon,) studied this question.