Celsius to Kelvin Scale Conversion

These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.

• Kelvin temperature scale

  The kelvin scale measures thermodynamic temperature from absolute zero. A temperature interval of one kelvin has the same size as one degree Celsius, but their zero points differ. For example, temperature ratios in the ideal gas law must use kelvin values rather than Celsius values.

• Temperature

  Temperature is a state quantity that determines the direction of net energy transfer through thermal contact. For a classical ideal gas it is proportional to the average translational kinetic energy per particle, rather than to the total energy of the sample. For example, a small hot metal sample can have a higher temperature but less total internal energy than a large cooler sample.

  Read more: Temperature →