20 degrees Celsius equals 293.15 kelvin.
To convert Celsius to kelvin, you add 273.15 to the Celsius temperature. This shifts the scale so that zero kelvin corresponds to absolute zero, the lowest temperature possible. Therefore, 20°C + 273.15 gives the temperature in kelvin.
Conversion Tool
Result in kelvin:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert Celsius (°C) into kelvin (K) is:
K = °C + 273.15
This formula works because the kelvin scale starts at absolute zero (-273.15°C). Adding 273.15 shifts the Celsius value up to match kelvin’s zero point. No multiplying or dividing is needed, only addition.
Example: Convert 20°C to kelvin
- Start with 20°C
- Add 273.15 to 20: 20 + 273.15 = 293.15
- The result is 293.15 K
Conversion Example
- Convert 0°C to kelvin:
- Take 0°C
- Add 273.15: 0 + 273.15 = 273.15 K
- So, 0°C equals 273.15 K
- Convert -10°C to kelvin:
- Start with -10°C
- Add 273.15: -10 + 273.15 = 263.15 K
- Therefore, -10°C is 263.15 K
- Convert 37°C to kelvin:
- Begin with 37°C
- Add 273.15: 37 + 273.15 = 310.15 K
- So, 37°C equals 310.15 K
- Convert 100°C to kelvin:
- Start at 100°C
- Add 273.15: 100 + 273.15 = 373.15 K
- Thus, 100°C is 373.15 K
Conversion Chart
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
|---|---|
| -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 |
| 30.0 | 303.15 |
| 35.0 | 308.15 |
| 40.0 | 313.15 |
| 45.0 | 318.15 |
This chart shows Celsius temperatures in the left column with their equivalent kelvin values on the right. To find a kelvin value, locate the Celsius temperature in the table and read across to see the kelvin. This helps quick reference without calculation.
Related Conversion Questions
- What is 20 degrees Celsius in kelvin with decimal precision?
- How to convert 20 °C to kelvin manually?
- Is 20°C equal to 293 kelvin or 294 kelvin?
- What formula do I use to get kelvin from 20 Celsius?
- Which temperature corresponds to 20 degrees Celsius on the kelvin scale?
- How accurate is the conversion from 20 Celsius to kelvin?
- Why do I add 273.15 to convert 20°C to kelvin?
Conversion Definitions
Celsius: Celsius is a temperature scale where 0° marks the freezing point of water and 100° marks its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure. It is used worldwide for weather, cooking, and science, and it divides the temperature range into 100 equal parts between freezing and boiling.
Kelvin: Kelvin is an absolute temperature scale starting at absolute zero, the point where particles have minimum thermal motion. Unlike Celsius, kelvin does not use degrees. Its increments equal to Celsius degrees, but zero kelvin represents the lowest possible temperature in physics.
Conversion FAQs
Can negative Celsius temperatures be converted to kelvin?
Yes, negative Celsius values can be converted to kelvin by adding 273.15. Since kelvin starts at absolute zero (-273.15°C), any Celsius temperature above that can be expressed in kelvin. For example, -50°C equals 223.15 K.
Why is 273.15 added in the conversion formula?
The number 273.15 is added because zero kelvin corresponds to -273.15°C. This offset aligns the Celsius scale, which starts at water’s freezing point, with the kelvin scale, which starts at absolute zero, the theoretical lowest possible temperature.
Does converting Celsius to kelvin change the temperature physically?
No, converting between Celsius and kelvin only changes how the temperature is expressed. The actual thermal energy remains the same; only the zero reference point shifts. Both scales measure the same thermal conditions differently.
Is kelvin used outside scientific contexts?
Kelvin is mostly used in science, engineering, and thermodynamics because it avoids negative numbers. Everyday temperatures are more commonly reported in Celsius or Fahrenheit, but kelvin is essential when working with absolute temperatures.
Are Celsius and kelvin degrees equal in size?
Yes, one kelvin increment equals one degree Celsius in size. The difference lies in where zero is placed. This means converting between them requires only adding or subtracting 273.15, without multiplying or dividing the temperature value.