Temperature
Convert kelvin (K) to degree Celsius (°C). Temperature scales are affine, not just scaled — converting requires an offset as well as a factor, which is why °C and °F don't share a zero.
1 K = -272.15 °C
To convert kelvin to degree Celsius, apply °C = K − 273.15.
| K | °C |
|---|---|
| 1 | -272.15 |
| 2 | -271.15 |
| 5 | -268.15 |
| 10 | -263.15 |
| 25 | -248.15 |
| 50 | -223.15 |
| 100 | -173.15 |
| 250 | -23.15 |
| 500 | 226.85 |
| 1000 | 726.85 |
Process temperatures are read in °C or °F; thermodynamic calculations use absolute K or °R.
A temperature difference is not the same as an absolute temperature: a 10 °C rise equals an 18 °F rise, but 10 °C does not equal 50 °F.
Worked example. A temperature of 423.15 K is 150 °C.
Use °C = K − 273.15. Temperature scales are affine, so the conversion needs both a multiplier and an offset — unlike a simple unit factor.
1 K equals -272.15 °C. Note that a temperature difference converts differently from an absolute temperature.
Process temperatures are read in °C or °F; thermodynamic calculations use absolute K or °R.