Which of the following is the SI unit used for measuring thermodynamic temperature?

The correct answer is Kelvin.

Key Points

• Kelvin (K) is the SI unit for measuring thermodynamic temperature.
• It is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units (SI).
• Kelvin is named after the British scientist Lord Kelvin (William Thomson).
• The Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, which is the point where particles have minimum thermal motion.
• One Kelvin is equivalent to one degree Celsius in terms of temperature interval, but the Kelvin scale starts from absolute zero.

Additional Information

• Absolute Zero
  • It is the lowest possible temperature where nothing could be colder and no heat energy remains in a substance.
  • Absolute zero is 0 Kelvin, equivalent to -273.15 degrees Celsius.
• Thermodynamic Temperature
  • It is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system.
  • Thermodynamic temperature is important in the laws of thermodynamics, particularly in defining absolute zero.
• Comparison with Other Temperature Scales
  • Celsius: Water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C.
  • Fahrenheit: Water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F.
  • Rankine: A scale similar to Kelvin but uses the Fahrenheit degree interval; absolute zero is 0°R.
• Applications of Kelvin Scale
  • Used in scientific research where precise temperature measurements are crucial.
  • Commonly used in physics and chemistry to describe the behavior of gases, plasma, and other states of matter at extreme temperatures.