0 degrees Celsius equals 273.15 kelvin.
The conversion from Celsius to Kelvin involves adding 273.15 to the Celsius temperature. This adjustment shifts the scale so that absolute zero (the lowest possible temperature) is at 0 kelvin, rather than -273.15 degrees Celsius.
Conversion Tool
Result in kelvin:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert Celsius to Kelvin is simple: K = °C + 273.15. You add 273.15 to the Celsius temperature because Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, which is -273.15 °C. Adding this constant shifts the zero point to absolute zero.
Example: For 0 °C, the calculation is:
- Start with the Celsius value: 0 °C
- Add 273.15: 0 + 273.15
- Result is 273.15 K
This shows that 0 °C corresponds to 273.15 K.
Conversion Example
- Convert 25 °C to Kelvin:
- Start with 25 °C
- Add 273.15: 25 + 273.15 = 298.15
- Result is 298.15 K
- Convert -10 °C to Kelvin:
- Start with -10 °C
- Add 273.15: -10 + 273.15 = 263.15
- Result is 263.15 K
- Convert 100 °C to Kelvin:
- Start with 100 °C
- Add 273.15: 100 + 273.15 = 373.15
- Result is 373.15 K
- Convert -40 °C to Kelvin:
- Start with -40 °C
- Add 273.15: -40 + 273.15 = 233.15
- Result is 233.15 K
Conversion Chart
The chart below shows Celsius temperatures from -25.0 to 25.0 degrees with their equivalent in kelvin. Reading the chart, add 273.15 to the Celsius value to find kelvin. This helps to quickly find kelvin without calculation.
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
|---|---|
| -25.0 | 248.15 |
| -20.0 | 253.15 |
| -15.0 | 258.15 |
| -10.0 | 263.15 |
| -5.0 | 268.15 |
| 0.0 | 273.15 |
| 5.0 | 278.15 |
| 10.0 | 283.15 |
| 15.0 | 288.15 |
| 20.0 | 293.15 |
| 25.0 | 298.15 |
Related Conversion Questions
- What is the kelvin equivalent of zero degrees Celsius?
- How do I convert 0°C to kelvin with a formula?
- Is 0 Celsius equal to 273 kelvin or 273.15 kelvin?
- Why does 0 Celsius convert to 273.15 kelvin?
- Can I use a calculator to convert 0°C to kelvin?
- What temperature in kelvin corresponds to freezing point at 0 Celsius?
- Does 0 Celsius equal absolute zero in kelvin?
Conversion Definitions
Celsius: Celsius is a temperature scale where 0 represents the freezing point of water and 100 indicates the boiling point at standard pressure. Temperatures in Celsius are often used in daily weather reports and scientific measurements around the world.
Kelvin: Kelvin is a temperature scale used mainly in science, starting at absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature. One kelvin is equal in size to one degree Celsius, but kelvin has no negative values, making it useful for thermodynamics and physics calculations.
Conversion FAQs
Is it ever possible for Celsius and Kelvin to have the same numeric value?
No, Celsius and Kelvin scales never have the same numeric value because Kelvin starts at absolute zero (-273.15 °C). Even at the freezing point of water (0 °C), the Kelvin value is 273.15, so they do not overlap numerically.
Why do we add exactly 273.15 to convert Celsius to Kelvin?
The value 273.15 represents the difference between the zero points of both scales. Absolute zero is -273.15 °C, which corresponds to 0 K. Adding 273.15 shifts the Celsius scale to align with the Kelvin scale’s zero, preserving the size of the degree unit.
Can the Kelvin temperature ever be negative?
No, Kelvin can never be negative. The Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, which is the lowest limit of temperature possible. Negative kelvin values would imply temperatures below absolute zero, which are not achievable according to current physics.
How precise is the 273.15 value in conversions?
The number 273.15 is an exact constant defined by the temperature difference between freezing point of water and absolute zero. For most calculations, this precision suffices, although in high precision scientific work, tiny adjustments might be used based on specific conditions.
Does converting 0 Celsius to Kelvin affect pressure or volume in gases?
Converting temperature scales itself doesn’t affect physical properties like pressure or volume, but using Kelvin is necessary in gas law calculations. Gas laws require absolute temperatures in kelvin to correctly predict changes in pressure or volume.