Units of Measurement/Temperature
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. 25 degrees Celsius or 298.15 Kelvin 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, 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
[edit | edit source]| 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
[edit | edit source]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.
373.15 K | 100 °C | 212 °F is the boiling point of pure water.
5811.3 K | 5537.8 °C | 10000 °F is the average temperature of the sun's photosphere.
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Helmenstine, Anne (2020-08-10). "What Is Absolute Zero? Temperature in Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit". Science Notes and Projects. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ↑ "Uncertainty principle | Definition & Equation | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ↑ information@eso.org. "The Boomerang Nebula - the coolest place in the Universe?". www.spacetelescope.org. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ↑ "Helium - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table". www.rsc.org. Retrieved 2024-06-02.