Temperature

There are two main measures of temperature in science.

One is the CENTRIGRADE SCALE or more commonly known as the CELSIUS SCALE
The other is the KELVIN SCALE

(and no.. it's not the Fahrenheit scale..)

The Celsius scale was based for household use and based on the boiling and freezing points of water.

Water freezes at 0∘ C and boils at 100∘ C.

After plotting a graph of Pressure against Temperature, you should find that pressure and temperature are directly proportional to each other and as temperature decreases, so does pressure. (refer to kinetic theory for a more thorough understanding)

So, since they are directly proportional to each other, we have used this graph to figure out the 'absolute zero' for temperature.

Extend the line so that you reach '0' for pressure and you should find (if your graph is accurate enough) that the 'absolute zero' for temperature is exactly

-273∘C

The Kelvin scale uses this as its 0 point.

Therefore....

0K is equivalent to -273∘C

Conversions

To convert from Kelvins to Celsius, simply add 273 to the temperature in Kelvins

Alternatively, to convert from Celsius to Kelvins, simple deduct 273 from the temperature in Celsius.

**note: When using Kelvins, there is no need to put in a degrees sign.

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