Question

Convert \(65^{\circ} C\) to kelvins. (Chapter 2)

Short answer

To convert \(65^{\circ}C\) to Kelvin, use the formula \(K = °C + 273.15\). Substitute the given value and simplify: \(K = 65 + 273.15 = 338.15\). Therefore, \(65^{\circ}C\) is equal to \(338.15K\).

Step-by-step solution

Recall the relation between Celsius and Kelvin

To convert a temperature from Celsius to Kelvin, we can use the following formula: \(K = °C + 273.15\) where K is the temperature in Kelvin and °C is the temperature in Celsius.

Substitute the given value

We are given the temperature in Celsius as \(65°C\). Substitute this value into the formula: \(K = 65°C + 273.15\)

Simplify and calculate

Now, simplify the equation and calculate the temperature in Kelvin: \(K = 65 + 273.15\) \(K = 338.15\)

Write the final answer

The temperature in Kelvin is \(338.15K\). So, the temperature in Celsius, \(65^{\circ} C\), is equal to \(338.15K\).

Key concepts

Temperature Conversion

Understanding how to convert temperatures between different scales is a common and practical skill. Amongst these conversions, shifting values from the Celsius scale to the Kelvin scale is particularly important in scientific contexts.
As highlighted in the exercise, converting temperatures requires a basic formula. For Celsius to Kelvin, the conversion formula is relatively simple: you start with the temperature in degrees Celsius and simply add 273.15 to it. This number represents the difference between the zero points of the two scales. In daily life, we may not use Kelvin very often, but in the world of science, especially in fields like physics and chemistry, it's a critical skill to have.
Remember, temperature represents the amount of thermal energy available, and these conversions help us represent this energy in different contexts, aiding in universal understanding and comparisons in scientific research.

Kelvin Scale

The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale named after William Thomson, also known as Lord Kelvin. This scale is pivotal in scientific fields because it starts at absolute zero, the theoretical lowest possible temperature where molecular motion would cease, technically considered the 'zero point' of thermal energy.
The Kelvin scale is characterized by an absence of negative numbers. This feature makes it convenient for scientific calculations, particularly those involving thermodynamics or the behavior of gases, under the ideal gas law.
Unlike the Celsius or Fahrenheit scales, the Kelvin scale does not use the term 'degrees'; instead, temperatures are given simply in 'kelvins' (K).

Celsius Scale

The Celsius scale, previously known as the centigrade scale, is a temperature scale used in most of the world for everyday temperature measurements. The scale is named after Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer who created a similar system. It's defined by two points: the freezing point of water (0 degrees Celsius) and the boiling point of water (100 degrees Celsius) at one atmospheric pressure.
In the exercise, we're focused on the conversion from the Celsius scale to the Kelvin scale, which is crucial when scientists require a more precise and absolute temperature measurement for their experiments and various calculations in physics and chemistry. It's important to know that the Celsius scale is relative, whereas the Kelvin scale provides an absolute measure of temperature.