20 kelvin is equal to -423.67 degrees Fahrenheit.
Converting 20 kelvin to fahrenheit involves first adjusting kelvin to celsius, then converting celsius to fahrenheit. Since kelvin starts at absolute zero, the formula accounts for that offset before scaling to the Fahrenheit scale.
Conversion Tool
Result in fahrenheit:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert kelvin to fahrenheit is F = (K - 273.15) × 9/5 + 32. You subtract 273.15 from the kelvin value to get celsius because kelvin scale starts from absolute zero which equals -273.15°C. Then you multiply by 9/5 to convert celsius degrees to fahrenheit degrees, and finally add 32 to adjust for the difference in zero points between celsius and fahrenheit.
Example calculation for 20 K:
- Subtract 273.15: 20 – 273.15 = -253.15
- Multiply by 9/5: -253.15 × 9/5 = -455.67
- Add 32: -455.67 + 32 = -423.67°F
Conversion Example
- Convert 100 K to Fahrenheit:
- 100 – 273.15 = -173.15
- -173.15 × 9/5 = -311.67
- -311.67 + 32 = -279.67°F
- Convert 0 K to Fahrenheit:
- 0 – 273.15 = -273.15
- -273.15 × 9/5 = -491.67
- -491.67 + 32 = -459.67°F
- Convert 273.15 K to Fahrenheit:
- 273.15 – 273.15 = 0
- 0 × 9/5 = 0
- 0 + 32 = 32°F
- Convert 300 K to Fahrenheit:
- 300 – 273.15 = 26.85
- 26.85 × 9/5 = 48.33
- 48.33 + 32 = 80.33°F
Conversion Chart
| Kelvin (K) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|---|
| -5.0 | -477.67 |
| 0.0 | -459.67 |
| 5.0 | -441.67 |
| 10.0 | -423.67 |
| 15.0 | -405.67 |
| 20.0 | -387.67 |
| 25.0 | -369.67 |
| 30.0 | -351.67 |
| 35.0 | -333.67 |
| 40.0 | -315.67 |
| 45.0 | -297.67 |
This chart shows kelvin values from -5.0 to 45.0 alongside their equivalent fahrenheit temperatures. To use it, find the kelvin value in the left column then see the matching fahrenheit on right. Negative kelvin is physically invalid but included here just for scale comparison.
Related Conversion Questions
- What is 20 kelvin in fahrenheit exactly?
- How cold is 20 K compared to normal freezing points in fahrenheit?
- Can you convert 20 K directly to fahrenheit without going through Celsius?
- Is 20 kelvin above or below absolute zero in fahrenheit?
- How do I convert 20 kelvin to fahrenheit using a calculator?
- What temperature does 20 kelvin equal in fahrenheit scale?
- Why does 20 kelvin convert to a negative fahrenheit value?
Conversion Definitions
Kelvin: Kelvin is the SI unit of temperature measurement, starting at absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature where particles have minimum thermal motion. It uses the same increment scale as Celsius without negative numbers, making it useful in scientific calculations involving temperature.
Fahrenheit: Fahrenheit is a temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees at standard atmospheric pressure. Common in the United States, it divides the temperature range into 180 degrees between these two points, different from Celsius or Kelvin scales.
Conversion FAQs
Why does kelvin temperature need to subtract 273.15 before converting to fahrenheit?
Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, which is 0 K, but Fahrenheit scale does not. Subtracting 273.15 converts kelvin to Celsius first, which aligns the zero points before converting to Fahrenheit. Without this step, the conversion would produce incorrect results.
Is it possible to have negative kelvin values?
No, kelvin is an absolute temperature scale starting at absolute zero. Negative kelvin values don’t exist physically because absolute zero is the lowest limit of thermal energy, and temperatures cannot go below that.
Why is 20 kelvin so cold in fahrenheit?
20 kelvin corresponds to about -423.67°F, which is extremely cold because kelvin measures from absolute zero. Since absolute zero is -459.67°F, 20 K is very close to that extreme cold, far below freezing temperatures humans experience.
Can this conversion formula be used for liquids and gases?
Yes, this formula converts temperature values regardless of the substance. However, physical properties depending on temperature may require additional context, but temperature conversion itself is consistent for all states of matter.
Why does the conversion formula add 32 at the end?
Adding 32 adjusts the zero point from Celsius to Fahrenheit. Celsius zero is 0°C while Fahrenheit zero is 32°F, so this shift aligns the converted value correctly within the Fahrenheit scale.