Kelvin to Celsius Formula

The measure of hotness or coldness of an object is relative to another object is called temperature. Kelvin and Celsius’s scales are the most frequently used temperature – assessing scales in thermometer for measuring temperature. The interval of 1 degree on the Kelvin scale is similar to the interval of 1 degree on the Celsius scale. In other words, a change of 1 Kelvin is equal to a change of 1 Celsius degree. The Celsius temperature scale is a common System International (SI) temperature scale and the official scale is Kelvin. Let us now study in detail about Kelvin to Celsius formula.

                                                                                                                                                            Source:  wikihow.com

Kelvin to Celsius Formula

Celsius Scale:

The Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius developed the Celsius scale in 1742. The concept of the Celsius scale is based on the melting and boiling points of water under normal atmospheric conditions. The current scale is an inverted form of the original scale, which was divided into 100 divisions.

Celsius scale is also called the centigrade scale because the scale is divided into 100 divisions. The freezing point of water on this scale is 0 degrees Celsius i.e. 0°. The boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius i.e. 100°.

Kelvin Scale:

Kelvin scale is developed by Lord Kelvin while working in Scotland, in the year 1848. Kelvin scale uses the concept of molecular energy to define the extremes of hot and cold. Absolute zero, or 0 K, is the point at which molecular energy is at a minimum. The Kelvin scale is preferred in scientific work and in the laboratory.

Temperatures measured on the Kelvin scale are reported simply as K, not °K because it is an absolute scale. The Kelvin temperature scale is a thermodynamic temperature scale for all universal events, such that all temperatures on this scale are positive. The freezing point of water is 273.15 K and the boiling point of water is 373.15°K.

Kelvin to Celsius Conversion Formula

The relation between temperature in Kelvin (K) and temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) is

T_(°C) = T_(K) – 273.15

OR

T_(K) = T_(C) + 273.15

Where,

K	Temperature in Kelvin
C	The temperature in degrees Celsius (Centigrade)

Solved Examples

Q1. Water freezes at 0° C. What is the temperature in Kelvin?

Answer: Temperature, Celsius = 0° C.

K = °C + 273.15

K = 0°C + 273.15

Therefore,

K = 273.15

Q2. Temperatures on Enceladus one of the moon’s of Saturn, have been measured to be between 85-90 Kelvin, in a ‘warm’ region near the South Pole. What is the temperature in degrees Celsius?

Answer: T in Kelvin = 85 – 90. Use the formula.

K = °C + 273.15

273. i) K – 273.15 = °C

85 K – 273.15 = °C

-188.15 = °C

273. ii) K = °C + 273.15

°C = 90 K – 273.15

°C = -183.15

The temperature in the ‘warm’ area of Enceladus has temperatures of (-183.15 to -188.15) °C

Q3. The boiling point of hydrogen is 20.28 K and it’s melting point is 14.01 K. Compute its temperature in Celsius.
Answer:

The melting point of hydrogen is 14.01 K

The boiling point of hydrogen = 20.28 K

In Celsius,

Hydrogen’s melting point is 14.01 K = 14.01 – 273.15 = -259.14 ⁰C

Hydrogen’s boiling point is 20.28 K = 20.28 – 273.15 = -252.87 ⁰C

Q4. Convert normal body temperature from Kelvin to Celsius.

Answer:

The human body temperature is 310.15 K.

C = K – 273.15
= 310.15 – 273.15

= 37
Therefore human body temperature in Celsius is 37°C