Temp Converter
Kelvin (K)
Definition: The kelvin (symbol: K) is the primary unit of temperature in the International System of Units (SI). One kelvin is equal to the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water.
History/origin: Named after the Belfast-born, Glasgow University engineer and physicist William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, who wrote of the need for an "absolute thermometric scale" in 1848.
Current use: The Kelvin scale is used almost exclusively in scientific and engineering fields, particularly in physics and astronomy, where absolute temperatures are necessary for complex calculations.
Celsius (°C)
Definition: Celsius, also known as centigrade, is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is based on 0° for the freezing point of water and 100° for the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure.
History/origin: Named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–1744). Before 1948, the scale was widely known as "centigrade" from the Latin "centum" (100) and "gradus" (steps).
Current use: Celsius is the most widely used temperature scale in the world today. It is the official scale for almost all countries and is used in science, medicine, and weather reporting everywhere except the US.
Kelvin (K) to Celsius (°C) Conversion Table
| Kelvin (K) [k] | Celsius (°C) [c] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 k | 0.01 c |
| 0.1 k | 0.1 c |
| 1 k | 1 c |
| 2 k | 2 c |
| 3 k | 3 c |
| 5 k | 5 c |
| 10 k | 10 c |
| 20 k | 20 c |
| 50 k | 50 c |
| 100 k | 100 c |
| 1000 k | 1000 c |
How to Convert Kelvin (K) to Celsius (°C)
1 k = 1 c
1 c = 1 k
Example: convert 15 k to c:
15 k = 15 × 1 c = 15 c
Did You Know?
- Kelvin is the "absolute" temperature scale. 0 Kelvin is called "Absolute Zero," the point where all molecular motion stops. It is equivalent to -273.15° Celsius.
- Did you know? The Celsius scale was originally designed in reverse! Anders Celsius initially set 0° as the boiling point of water and 100° as the freezing point. It was flipped to its current form after his death.