How Many Kelvin is 1 Degree Celsius

How Many Kelvin is 1 Degree Celsius

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on May 24, 2023 11:01 AM IST

Introduction

One degree Celsius is exactly the same as 274.15 K. Kelvin and Celsius are units of temperature used in the International System of Units to depict the measurement of temperature. These scales are different but they are related by a common scale of international standards and can be used interchangeably. To understand the Kelvin and Celsius scales, the concept of absolute zero must be known. It is also important to know how to convert Kelvin to Celsius and vice versa.

Absolute Zero

The temperature of any physical object is defined in terms of its hotness or coldness. As the temperature of an object increases, the atoms and molecules within it begin to move and vibrate more rapidly, producing heat.

Absolute zero temperature is found in a state where a thermodynamic system has the lowest kinetic energy. All the elements might not be completely motionless but their kinetic energy will be close to zero. This means that they cannot produce much heat. Hence, the absolute zero temperature can be called a temperature where heat is nearly absent in a system.

The concept of the lowest temperature is created from the gaseous behavioural variation under pressure. When the temperature decreases, gases contract continuously. Ideal gases, a theoretical concept where inter-particle interaction will not occur changing the gaseous behaviour, will reach zero volume at a particular temperature. This temperature is defined as absolute zero temperature.

The absolute temperature in different temperature scales is as follows:

  • Celsius scale: -273.15 degrees Celsius

  • Fahrenheit scale: 459.76 degrees Fahrenheit

  • Kelvin scale: 0 Kelvin

Hence, it can be seen that the Kelvin scale is defined through the concept of absolute zero temperature. The relationship between Kelvin and Celsius scales was defined with the same concept.

Kelvin and Celsius

The Celsius scale is a temperature measurement scale and it can also be used to define the range of temperature between two values or states. The basis of the Celsius scale is that the freezing point of water is 0 °C and the boiling point of water is 100 °C.

Kelvin scale is similar to the Celsius scale in terms of use cases and basic ideas as it is also a temperature measurement scale. As discussed earlier, the Kelvin scale is defined on the basis of the absolute zero concept. It expresses temperature in the terms of “degree Kelvin”. A degree Kelvin is defined as the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water. The triple point of water is the temperature at which water can exist in all three of its states (solid, liquid, and gas) at the same time.

As the Kelvin scale is based on the absolute zero temperature, there is no negative value in the Kelvin scale. Hence, the lowest temperature expressed in Kelvin is 0 Kelvin.

With these concepts, the conversion of celsius to Kelvin and Kelvin to celsius can be calculated by the following equations:

Celsius to Kelvin:

T = Tc + 273.15

T = Temperature in Kelvin

Tc = Temperature in Celsius

Kelvin to celsius:

Tc = T – 273.15

Hence, the triple point of water in the Celsius scale is 0.01 °C.

Example:

An element has its boiling point at 78.5 °C and freezing point at -117 °C under a pressure of 1 atm. Convert these temperatures to the Kelvin scale.

Solution:

The celsius to Kelvin equation is:

T = Tc + 273.15

Here, in the first case Tc = 78.5

T = 78.5 + 273.15

T = 351.7 K

In the second case, Tc = -117

T = - 117 + 273.115

T = 156K

The important thing to keep in mind is that the Kelvin and the degree celsius are not the same things. A Kelvin is a unit of temperature measurement, while a degree celsius is a unit of temperature difference. In other words, Kelvin is a measure of the amount of heat present in an object, while the degree of celsius is a measure of the difference in temperature between two objects.

Despite this difference, the two units are often used interchangeably, particularly in scientific and technical contexts. This is because the difference between the two units is very small, and can usually be ignored for most practical purposes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one-degree celsius is equal to exactly 273.15 Kelvin. This relationship is defined by the International Temperature Scale of 1990, which is the modern standard for measuring temperature. The Kelvin and degree celsius are often used interchangeably, despite being different units of measurement. However, it is important to understand the difference between the two units in order to accurately interpret and use temperature measurements.

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