BeginnerTopic 5 of 105Thermodynamics & Fluids
Temperature scales
Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin; absolute zero is 0 K.
In depth
Kelvin is absolute (0 K = -273.15 °C); T(K)=T(°C)+273.15; °F=1.8°C+32. Thermodynamic equations require absolute temperature. The ITS-90 defines practical scale fixed points such as the triple point of water at 273.16 K.
Key points
- Temperature differences same in K and °C
- Rankine for °F absolute
- Use K in ideal gas law
ExampleRoom temperature 20 °C is 293.15 K.
What is Temperature scales?
Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin; absolute zero is 0 K.
Why is it important to understand temperature scales?
Absolute temperature is needed in the gas laws and efficiency formulas, so using Celsius in those equations gives wrong answers.
Why must I use kelvin in thermodynamic formulas?
Ratios of temperatures in efficiency and gas law formulas only make sense on an absolute scale that starts at zero.
How do I convert Celsius to kelvin?
Add 273.15 to the Celsius value, so 25 degrees Celsius is 298.15 K.
How is Temperature scales used in practice?
Typical applications include converting a boiler outlet temperature to kelvin for an efficiency calculation, checking the temperature in the ideal gas law and comparing the temperatures of two heat sources in a Carnot calculation.
What should I learn before Temperature scales?
Study "Temperature and zeroth law" first (topic 4 of 105 in Thermodynamics & Fluids). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Temperature scales?
Temperature differences same in K and °C. Rankine for °F absolute. Use K in ideal gas law.
Can you give an example of Temperature scales?
Room temperature 20 °C is 293.15 K.
What comes after Temperature scales?
The next topic is "Pressure", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Temperature scales?
It is classed as Beginner in Thermodynamics & Fluids (topic 5 of 105). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.