Understanding Units of Temperature: Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin and More

Last Updated on Jul 31, 2023
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Temperature is a fundamental concept in physics, representing the degree of hotness or coldness of an object or substance. It's typically measured using a thermometer , and expressed in units such as Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin. Let's dive deeper into these units and understand how they're used and converted.

The Kelvin: The SI Unit of Temperature

The Kelvin, denoted as K, is the standard unit of temperature according to the International System of Units (SI). It's widely used in scientific and engineering contexts. However, for everyday measurements, most people use the Celsius or Fahrenheit scale.

Here's how you can convert between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin:

 

Converting Between Temperature Scales

Since Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin are the most commonly used temperature scales, it's essential to know how to convert between them. The table below provides the conversion formulas for these units.

A Look at Other Temperature Units

Apart from the main three, there are several other units of temperature, including Rankine, Newton, Rømer, Réaumur, and Delisle. Let's see how these units relate to the Celsius scale.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The SI unit of temperature as per the International System of Units is Kelvin which is represented by the symbol K.

It is the method in which the transfer of heat takes place between atoms and molecules in direct contact.

Heat is defined as the total energy of an object that has molecular motion inside it. The SI unit of heat is Joule.

Temperature is defined as the measure of the thermal energy of an object. The SI unit of temperature as per the International System of Units is Kelvin.

Convection: It is the method in which the transfer of heat happens by the movement of the heated substance. Radiation: It is the method in which the transfer of heat takes place by electromagnetic waves.

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