Metric System Conversion / Temperature

Another temperature scale used with the metric system is called the Kelvin scale. It was named after Lord Kelvin, a great British physicist.

As shown below, the starting or zero point on the Kelvin scale is absolute zero. Absolute zero is the lowest theoretical temperature that a gas can reach.

Notice that the difference between the freezing and the boiling temperatures of water is 100 Celsius units and also 100 Kelvin units. The only difference between the two scales is that the Kelvin scale has a "head start" of 273.15 units.

You can change a Celsius reading (c) to a Kelvin reading (k) as follows:

k = c + 273.15

72º C = ? ºK
k = 72 + 273.15
k = 345.15
72º C = 345.15ºk

You can change a Kelvin reading to a Celsius reading as follows:

c = k - 273.15

250ºK = ? ºC
c = 250 - 273.15
c = -23.15
250ºK = -23.15ºC

By laying the edge of a ruler or paper perpendicular to the scales shown here, you can estimate equivalent temperatures on all three scales.

Temperature Comparison