When it comes to measuring temperature, two of the most commonly used units are Celsius (°C) and Kelvin (K). Understanding the relationship between these two units and how to convert between them is essential in various scientific, industrial, and everyday applications. In this post, we will explore the Celsius and Kelvin temperature scales and provide a handy Celsius to Kelvin temperature converter.
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Kelvin:
Kelvin:
What is Celsius (°C)?
Celsius, often referred to as the centigrade scale, is a temperature scale used worldwide in most countries. It was developed by the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in the 18th century. The Celsius scale is based on the freezing and boiling points of water at standard atmospheric pressure. Here’s how it works:
- 0°C is the temperature at which water freezes.
- 100°C is the temperature at which water boils at sea level (standard atmospheric pressure).
The Celsius scale divides the temperature range between these two points into 100 equal intervals or degrees. It is commonly used for weather forecasts, everyday temperature measurements, and scientific research.
What is Kelvin (K)?
Kelvin is an absolute temperature scale, named after the Scottish physicist William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin. Unlike Celsius and Fahrenheit, which are relative scales, Kelvin is an absolute scale that starts from absolute zero, the point at which all molecular motion ceases. Here’s how Kelvin works:
- 0 K (absolute zero) is the lowest possible temperature and represents a complete absence of thermal energy.
- There are no negative Kelvin temperatures.
The Kelvin scale is widely used in scientific fields, particularly in physics and chemistry, where precise temperature measurements and calculations are necessary. It is also commonly used in the study of extreme temperatures, such as those found in outer space.
Converting Celsius to Kelvin
Converting temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin is a straightforward process. The Kelvin scale is simply the Celsius scale shifted by 273.15 units. So, the formula for converting Celsius to Kelvin is:
Kelvin (K) = Celsius (°C) + 273.15
Here’s a quick example:
If you have a temperature of 25°C and you want to convert it to Kelvin:
Kelvin (K) = 25°C + 273.15 = 298.15 K
So, 25°C is equal to 298.15 Kelvin.
Celsius to Kelvin Conversion Table
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
| -100 | 173.15 |
| -90 | 183.15 |
| -80 | 193.15 |
| -70 | 203.15 |
| -60 | 213.15 |
| -50 | 223.15 |
| -40 | 233.15 |
| -30 | 243.15 |
| -20 | 253.15 |
| -10 | 263.15 |
| 0 | 273.15 |
| 10 | 283.15 |
| 20 | 293.15 |
| 30 | 303.15 |
| 40 | 313.15 |
| 50 | 323.15 |
| 60 | 333.15 |
| 70 | 343.15 |
| 80 | 353.15 |
| 90 | 363.15 |
| 100 | 373.15 |
| 110 | 383.15 |
| 120 | 393.15 |
| 130 | 403.15 |
| 140 | 413.15 |
Understanding the relationship between Celsius and Kelvin temperatures is valuable in various fields, from scientific research and industrial processes to everyday activities like cooking or determining weather conditions. Whether you’re a student, scientist, engineer, or simply curious about temperature, knowing how to convert between these two units is a valuable skill to have.
