Temperature and radiation absorption

From: Doodedski (billybilly54321_at_hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid)
Date: 09/24/04 

Date: 24 Sep 2004 01:52:35 -0500

2 unrelated questions that no one at school can answer clearly.
First, why is the definition of temperature not just simply a constant
times the kinetic energy (rotation, vibration, translation...) of
particles instead of dQ/dS which I don't quite understand the
physical sense?

Second, can anyone explain to me how an atom can absorb a photon? It
seems to me that if an electron absorbs a photon, it goes to a higher
level of energy but must come right back down reemiting a photon? No
additionnal energy is acquired by the atom. By which process is it
possible for an atom (alone, in a cristal structure, in a gas...) to
absorb a photon's energy and to keep it in the form of vibrational
energy, kinetic energy... Oh, and what happens if the photon hits the
nucleus?
Thanks

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