Temperature Conversions

Key Concepts

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object.
Adding energy, eg, heat, to an object increases the kinetic energy of the particles which is observed as an increase in temperature.
When an object loses energy, kinetic energy of the particles decreases and is observed as a decrease in temperature.
Several temperature scales are in common use:
Kelvin Scale based on the kelvin unit (K), the SI unit of temperature.
Celsius Scale based on degrees Celsius (^oC), closely related to the Centigrade scale.
Fahrenheit Scale based on degrees Fahrenheit (^oF), commonly used in North America.
Kelvin Scale is based on the following fixed points:
The zero point is absolute zero, the lowest temperature theoretically obtainable.
The temperature at which solid, liquid and gaseous water can coexist indefinitely (the triple-point temperature of water) is assigned a value of 273.16K
Celsius Scale is based on a triple-point temperature of water of 0.01^oC, and at 1atm pressure a freezing point of 0.00^oC and a boiling point of 100.00^oC.
Celsius units (^oC) are the same size as kelvin units (K).
Fahrenheit Scale is based on a freezing point of water of 32^oF and a boiling point of 212^oF.

Convert 100^oC to kelvin
kelvin (K) = ^oC + 273.15
K = 100 + 273.15 = 373.15K
Convert 298.15K to Celsius
^oC = K - 273.15
^oC = 298.15 - 273.15 = 25^oC
Convert 212^oF to Celsius
^oC = ⁵/₉ x (^oF - 32)
^oC = ⁵/₉ x (212 - 32) = 100^oC
Convert 30^oC to Fahrenheit
^oF = (⁹/₅ x ^oC) + 32
^oF = (⁹/₅ x 30) + 32 = 86^oF
Convert 80^oF to kelvin
Convert ^oF to ^oC
^oC = ⁵/₉ x (^oF - 32)
^oC = ⁵/₉ x (80 - 32) = 26.67^oC
Convert ^oC to K
K = ^oC + 273.15
K = 26.67 + 273.15 = 299.82K
Convert 293.15K to Fahrenheit
Convert K to ^oC
^oC = K - 273.15
^oC = 293.15 - 273.15 = 20^oC
Convert ^oC to ^oF
^oF = (⁹/₅ x ^oC) + 32
^oF = (⁹/₅ x 20) + 32 = 68^oF