Question

A celsius temperature reading may be converted to the corresponding Kelvin temperature reading by

Answer 1

To convert Celsius to Kelvin, add 273 to the Celsius temperature. This simple equation is used because the Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale starting at absolute zero, -273.15°C, which aligns with the Celsius scale's degree size.

Step-by-step explanation:

Converting Celsius Temperature to Kelvin

To convert a Celsius temperature reading to the corresponding Kelvin temperature, you should add 273 to the Celsius temperature. This is a straightforward calculation because the size of one degree on the Celsius scale is equal to the size of one kelvin on the Kelvin scale. However, the Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero which is -273.15°C, so the formula for converting Celsius to Kelvin is:

K = °C + 273

For example, to convert 25°C to Kelvin:

K = 25°C + 273
= 298 K

The Kelvin scale is commonly used in scientific work because it is an absolute temperature scale. The freezing and boiling points of water are 273.15 K and 373.15 K, respectively, making it easy to reference temperatures in scientific contexts.