Temperature Conversion Formula: Definition, Classification, Conversion

Temperature Conversion Formula: Temperature is a physical quantity that may be used to represent hot and cold feelings. Temperature is measured in Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Celsius, and other units. When changing the value of temperature from one unit to another, we employ temperature conversion formulas.

As per the Kelvin scale, the boiling point and thezing point of water are \(373.15\;{\rm{K}}\) and \(273.15\;{\rm{K}},\) respectively, in Fahrenheit scale, it is \({\rm{21}}{{\rm{2}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}}\) and \({\rm{3}}{{\rm{2}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}}\) and in the Celsius scale, the boiling point and thezing point of water are \({\rm{10}}{{\rm{0}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}\) and \({{\rm{0}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}},\) respectively. There can be conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin, Fahrenheit and Kelvin. Let us learn them in detail.

Learn About Different Scales of Temperature

What is Temperature?

The temperature is a measure of the hotness and coldness of any object or body. Based on our sensations, we can feel the intensity of temperature and express it with words like hot, cold, warm, etc. Temperature is an average measure of the kinetic energy for particles of matter. The kinetic energy and the body or object temperature are inversely proportional to each other.

Temperature Scale

Temperature scales measure the hotness and coldness of an object or a body. The three temperature scales are Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit.

Celsius

The Swedish astronomer, Anders Celsius, discovered the Celsius scale. We call the Celsius scale the centigrade scale. On the Celsius scale, thezing point of water is \({{\rm{0}}^{\rm{o}}},\) and the boiling point of water is \({{\rm{100}}^{\rm{o}}}\) In other words, the centigrade scale allocates \({{\rm{0}}^{\rm{o}}}\) to the temperature at which waterzes up and \({{\rm{100}}^{\rm{o}}}\) to the temperature at which it boils.We represent the temperature in Celsius at \(\left( {{{\rm{0}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}} \right).\) For instance, the normal human body temperature is \({{\rm{3}}{{\rm{7}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}}.\)

Fahrenheit

The Fahrenheit scale is a temperature scale invented by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, and so, it is named after him. Thezing point of water is at \({\rm{3}}{{\rm{2}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}}\) and the boiling point at \({\rm{21}}{{\rm{2}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}}\) on this scale. In Fahrenheit, we represent the temperature in \({^{\rm{o}}{\rm{F}}}\) For instance, the normal body temperature is \({\rm{98}}{{\rm{.6}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}}.\)

Kelvin

Lord Kelvin discovered an absolute temperature scale which was later named after him as Kelvin’s absolute temperature scale based on the Carnot cycle. In Kelvin’s scale, the zero point is \(273.15\) below that of the Celsius scale. 

Each division in the kelvin scale called one Kelvin \(\left( {\rm{K}} \right)\) is the same as one degree on the Celsius scale, but the difference is where zero is. The zero point is at absolute zero in the Kelvin scale, while in the Celsius scale, \({0^{\rm{o}}}\) is thezing point of water. Thus, \({{\rm{0}}\,{\rm{K}}}\) is equal to \( – {273.15^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}},\,{0^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}\) is equal to \(273.15\;{\rm{K}}{\rm{.}}\) The Kelvin scale is applied for very high or very low temperatures when water is not involved.

The Kelvin scale of heat measurement differs from the Fahrenheit and centigrade scales in that it begins from absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature.

Temperature Conversion Formulas

The temperature says how cold or hot an object surface or the object’s surrounding areas are. The temperature of everything around us can be measured, such as from our tea to our ice cream, to the climate outside and inside our room, etc. 

Temperature conversion formulas are described as conversion formulas for transforming temperature from one unit to another. There are several unique temperature conversion methods. Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin, are the most frequently used scales for temperature measurement.
Temperature is measured using a thermometer. Kelvin is the SI unit of temperature. We use Celsius \(\left( {^{\rm{o}}{\rm{C}}} \right)\) or centigrade and Fahrenheit \(\left( {^{\rm{o}}{\rm{F}}} \right)\) to measure the temperature in our daily life.

We can express the temperature conversion formulas as given below. Here, \({\rm{K}}\) denotes temperature in the Kelvin scale, \({\rm{C}}\) represents the temperature on the Celsius scale, and \({\rm{F}}\) denotes temperature in the Fahrenheit scale.

Formula 1: Transformation of temperature between Kelvin and Celsius.

We can convert Celsius to Kelvin using the formula,

\({\rm{K = C + 273}}{\rm{.15}}\)

We can convert Kelvin to Celcius using the formula,
\({\rm{C = K – 273}}{\rm{.15}}\)

Formula 2: Transformation of temperature between Fahrenheit and Celsius
We can convert Fahrenheit to Celsius using the formula,
\({\rm{C = (F – 32) \times }}\frac{{\rm{5}}}{{\rm{9}}}\)

We can convert Celsius to Fahrenheit using the formula,
\({\rm{F = C \times }}\frac{{\rm{2}}}{{\rm{5}}}{\rm{ + 32}}\)

Formula 3: Transformation of temperature between Kelvin and Fahrenheit.

We can convert Fahrenheit to Kelvin using the formula,
\({\rm{K = (F – 32) \times }}\frac{{\rm{5}}}{{\rm{9}}}{\rm{ + 273}}{\rm{.15}}\)

We can convert Kelvin to Fahrenheit using the formula,
\({\rm{F = (K – 273}}{\rm{.15) \times }}\frac{{\rm{9}}}{{\rm{5}}}{\rm{ + 32}}\)

Uses of Temperature Scale

Temperature is an average measure of the kinetic energy for the atoms of matter. Generally, we use the Celsius scale for most temperature measuring cases. In the United States, people use Fahrenheit \(\left( {^{\rm{o}}{\rm{F}}} \right)\) temperature scale. For measuring body temperature, we use the Fahrenheit scale. We can recognise whether someone has a fever or not by measuring the temperature. If the temperature rises more than \({\rm{98}}{\rm{.}}{{\rm{6}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}},\) it is considered as fever. 

We use the Celsius temperature scale mainly to measure the boiling point andzing point of water. This scale is used in maximum countries as the unit of temperature.

Scientists use the Kelvin temperature scale as they needed a temperature scale where zero signifies the complete absence of thermal energy. It says about the absolute zero or the zero Kelvin. 

Solved Examples – Temperature Conversion Formula

Q.1. Niraj knows that one degree Celsius is equivalent to 273.15 Kelvin. He now wants to calculate 50°C in Kelvin. How would he find it?
Ans: Given that one degree Celsius\(=273.15\) kelvin
Niraj wants to calculate \({{\rm{5}}{{\rm{0}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}}\) in Kelvin.
We can convert Celsius to Kelvin using the formula,
\({\rm{K = C + 273}}{\rm{.15}}\)
Substituting \({\rm{C = 50}}\) we have,
\({\rm{K = 50 + 273}}{\rm{.15 = 323}}{\rm{.15}}\)
Therefore, the required answer is \({\rm{323}}{\rm{.15}}\,{\rm{K}}{\rm{.}}\)

Q.2. Harsha learned that the body temperature is generally 98° F, but he wants to convert it to Celsius. How will you help her?
Ans: Given that Harsha knows the body temperature on the Fahrenheit scale is \({\rm{98}}{\rm{.}}{{\rm{6}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}}.\)
Here, we must find the body temperature in Celsius.
Using the temperature conversion formula we have,
\({\rm{C = (F – 32) \times }}\frac{{\rm{5}}}{{\rm{9}}}\)
Now, substituting the value in Fahrenheit, we get,
\({\rm{C = (98}}{\rm{.6 – 32) \times }}\frac{{\rm{5}}}{{\rm{9}}}{\rm{ = 3}}{{\rm{7}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}\)
Hence, the body temperature in Celsius is \({\rm{3}}{{\rm{7}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}{\rm{.}}\)

Q.3. Convert 250 K to Fahrenheit.
Ans: We can convert Kelvin to Fahrenheit using the formula,
\({\rm{F = (K – 273}}{\rm{.15) \times }}\frac{9}{{\rm{5}}}{\rm{ + 32}}\)
Now, substituting \({\rm{K = 250,}}\) we have,
\({\rm{F = (250 – 273}}{\rm{.15) \times }}\frac{{\rm{9}}}{{\rm{5}}}{\rm{ + 32K = – 9}}{\rm{.67\;K}}\)
Hence, the required answer is \({\rm{ – 9}}{\rm{.67\;K}}{\rm{.}}\)

Q.4. Convert 300 Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Ans: We can convert Celsius to Fahrenheit using the formula,
\({\rm{C = (F – 32) \times }}\frac{{\rm{5}}}{{\rm{9}}}\)
Now, substituting \({\rm{F = 300,}}\) we have, \({\rm{C = (300 – 32) \times }}\frac{{\rm{5}}}{{\rm{9}}}{\rm{ = 148}}{\rm{.9}}\,{\rm{(approx)}}\)
Hence, the required answer is \({\rm{148}}{\rm{.}}{{\rm{9}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}\,{\rm{(approx)}}.\)

Q.5. Rashi knows that thezing point of water on the kelvin scale is 273.15K. She wants to find thezing point of water on the Fahrenheit scale. How would she find it?
Ans: Given that Rashi knows thezing point of water on the Kelvin scale is \({\rm{273}}{\rm{.15}}\,{\rm{K}}{\rm{.}}\)
Now, to convert Kelvin to Fahrenheit, we use the formula,
\({\rm{F = (K – 273}}{\rm{.15) \times }}\frac{{\rm{9}}}{{\rm{5}}}{\rm{ + 32}}\)
So, substituting \({\rm{K = 273}}{\rm{.15,}}\) we have,
\({\rm{F = (273}}{\rm{.15 – 273}}{\rm{.15) \times }}\frac{{\rm{9}}}{{\rm{5}}}{\rm{ + 32 = 32}}\)
Hence, the required answer is \({\rm{3}}{{\rm{2}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{F}}{\rm{.}}\)

Summary

In this article, we discussed the definition of temperature, conversion of temperature, the scale of temperature. We have learnt about three scales as Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin. We learnt about the formulas of conversion between Celsius and Fahrenheit, between Fahrenheit and Kelvin, between Celsius and Kelvin.

The conversion formulas for converting the value of temperature from one unit to another are known as temperature conversion formulas. There are several different ways for converting temperatures. The most common temperature measuring scales are Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit. The temperature conversion formulae are as follows:

• To convert Celsius to Kelvin, multiply C by 273.15.
• C = K – 273.15 Kelvin to Celcius
• C = (F-32) (5/9) Fahrenheit to Celcius
• Fahrenheit to Celsius: F = C(9/5) + 32
• K = (F-32) (5/9) + 273.15 K = (F-32) (5/9) K = (F-32) (5/9) K = (F-32) (5/9) K = (F-32) (5
• F = (K-273.15) (9/5) + 32 Kelvin to Fahrenheit

Learn the Concepts of Heat and Temperature

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – Temperature Conversion Formula

Q.1. What is temperature?
Ans: Temperature is a measure of the hotness and coldness of any object. Based on our physiological sensations, we can express the intensity of temperature qualitatively with hot, cold, warm, etc. Temperature is simply an average measure of the kinetic energy for particles of matter. The more is their kinetic energy, the higher the temperature of the body or the object.

Q.2. What do you understand by conversion of temperature?
Ans: Temperature conversion formulas are described as conversion formulas for transforming the value of temperature from one unit to another. There are several unique temperature conversion methods. Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin, are the most frequently used scales for temperature measurement.

Q.3. How to convert Celsius to Kelvin and Kelvin to Celsius?
Ans: Formula 1: Transformation of temperature between Kelvin and Celsius.
We can convert Celsius to Kelvin using the formula, \({\rm{K = C + 273}}{\rm{.15}}\)
We can convert Kelvin to Celcius using the formula, \({\rm{C = K – 273}}{\rm{.15}}\)

Q.4. How to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit and Fahrenheit to Celsius?
Ans: We can convert Fahrenheit to Celsius using the formula,
\(C = \left( {F – 32} \right) \times \frac{5}{9}\)
We can convert Celsius to Fahrenheit using the formula,
\({\rm{F = C \times }}\frac{{\rm{9}}}{{\rm{5}}}{\rm{ + 32}}\)

Q.5. What is the difference between Kelvin and Celsius?
Ans: Kelvin and Celsius are the units of temperature measurement. The only difference is in the marking of point zero. In the Kelvin scale, the lowest measure point is \({\rm{0}}\,{\rm{K}}\) which means the “absolute zero”, while \({{\rm{0}}^{\rm{o}}}{\rm{C}}\) is thezing point of water. By adding \({\rm{273}}{\rm{.15,}}\) we can convert Celsius to Kelvins.

Q.6. What are the uses of the Kelvin Scale?
Ans: Scientists use the Kelvin temperature scale because they wanted a temperature scale where zero reflects the complete absence of thermal energy. Kelvin scale is used in colour temperature identification and is usually used in lighting. In a lighting application, Kelvin temperature reflects the colour temperature related to an object’s physical temperature, such as blue, white, or sharp red.

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