Question

In only 15 minutes, the temperature in Fort Assiniboine, Montana, went from -5°F to +37°F on January 19, 1892. Calculate this change in temperature in kelvins.

Answer 1

The change in temperature was [ (37) - (-5) ] = 42 Fahrenheit degrees.

Kelvins and Celsius degrees are 9/5 (or 1.8) the size of Fahrenheit degrees.

42 F-degrees / 1.8 K per F-degree = 23 and 1/3 Kelvins.


Check, using °C = (5/9) (°F - 32) and K = 273.15 + °C :

-5° F = -20.566° C = 252.594 K.

+37° F = 2.778° C = 275.928 K

(275.928K - 252.594K) = 23.334 K close enough yay !