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Units of Measurement/Temperature

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The SI unit for Temperature is the Kelvin (K). However, Celsius (°C) is also often used as a measure of temperature. The formula to convert Celsius to Kelvin is K = °C + 273.15, so 25 °C will equal to 298.15 K. 20-22 degrees Celsius is called room temperature, and 0 °C or 273.15 K is called standard temperature.

Fahrenheit (°F) is also a commonly used temperature system in the United States, Palau, and Liberia, and the formula to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit is F= C*1.8+32. An example would be 32 Celsius times 1.8 is 57.6, and then gets added with 32 to make 89.6 °F.

There are also scales like the Rankine scale, which is the Kelvin version of Fahrenheit, or the Delisle scale that has negative numbers correspond to warmer temperatures.

Formulas for Conversion

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From row to column Celsius Kelvin Fahrenheit Rankine
Celsius = °C+273.15 °C*1.8+32 °C*1.8+459.67
Kelvin K-273.15 = (K-273.15)*1.8+32 K*1.8
Fahrenheit (°F-32)/1.8 (°F-32)/1.8-273.15 = °F+459.67
Rankine (°R-459.67)/1.8 °R/1.8 °R-459.67 =

Common Temperatures

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0 K | -273.15 °C | -458.67 °F is the temperature needed to make absolute zero[1], the lowest temperature that can theoretically exist. However, it is impossible to get to this temperature as Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle states that we can know the position or velocity of a particle, but not both. Absolute zero would allow us to know both, which would be impossible.[2]

1 K | -272.15 °C | -457.87 °F is how cold the Boomerang Nebula is, making it the coldest known natural place in the universe.[3]

4.25 K | -268.90 °C | -452.07 °F is the boiling point of helium at standard pressure.[4]

273.15 K | 0 °C | 32 °F is the melting point of pure water, and is also standard temperature.

283.15 K - 285.15 K | 20 °C - 22 °C | 61 °F -71.6 °F is considered to be room temperature.

373.15 K | 100 °C | 212 °F is the boiling point of pure water.

5700 K | 5430 °C | 9800 °F is the temperature of the Earth's core.

5811.3 K | 5537.8 °C | 10000 °F is the average temperature of the sun's photosphere.

References

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  1. Helmenstine, Anne (2020-08-10). "What Is Absolute Zero? Temperature in Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit". Science Notes and Projects. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  2. "Uncertainty principle | Definition & Equation | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  3. information@eso.org. "The Boomerang Nebula - the coolest place in the Universe?". www.spacetelescope.org. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  4. "Helium - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table". www.rsc.org. Retrieved 2024-06-02.