Samantha Nicole1 degree Celsius equals 274.15 kelvin.
The conversion from Celsius to kelvin just requires adding 273.15 to the Celsius value. This means that a temperature of 1°C is the same as 274.15 kelvin on the absolute scale. The kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, making it ideal in science.
Conversion Tool
Result in kelvin:
Conversion Formula
The formula for converting Celsius (c) to kelvin (K) is:
K = c + 273.15
This means, for every Celsius degree, you simply add 273.15 to get the kelvin value. The kelvin scale was designed so zero kelvin is the coldest temperature possible (absolute zero). Celsius was set so water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C at standard pressure, but kelvin starts at absolute zero, so you shift the scale up by 273.15 units.
Example calculation for 1°C:
- Write the formula: K = c + 273.15
- Plug in 1 for c: K = 1 + 273.15
- Add: 1 + 273.15 = 274.15
- So 1°C = 274.15 K
Conversion Example
Let’s convert a few other Celsius temperatures to kelvin step by step:
- 5°C to kelvin
- Add 273.15 to 5: 5 + 273.15 = 278.15
- So, 5°C = 278.15 K
- -10°C to kelvin
- Add 273.15 to -10: -10 + 273.15 = 263.15
- Therefore, -10°C = 263.15 K
- 15°C to kelvin
- Add 273.15 to 15: 15 + 273.15 = 288.15
- So, 15°C = 288.15 K
- 25.5°C to kelvin
- Add 273.15 to 25.5: 25.5 + 273.15 = 298.65
- Therefore, 25.5°C = 298.65 K
Conversion Chart
This chart lets you quickly find the kelvin value for Celsius temperatures between -24.0 and 26.0. Find your Celsius value in the left column, then read the corresponding kelvin value in the right column. It’s useful for checking conversions or comparing values side by side.
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
|---|---|
| -24.0 | 249.15 |
| -20.0 | 253.15 |
| -16.0 | 257.15 |
| -12.0 | 261.15 |
| -8.0 | 265.15 |
| -4.0 | 269.15 |
| 0.0 | 273.15 |
| 2.0 | 275.15 |
| 6.0 | 279.15 |
| 10.0 | 283.15 |
| 14.0 | 287.15 |
| 18.0 | 291.15 |
| 22.0 | 295.15 |
| 26.0 | 299.15 |
Related Conversion Questions
- What is 1 degree Celsius expressed in kelvin for scientific work?
- How do I convert 1°C temperature reading to kelvin for lab calculations?
- Is 1°C the same as 274.15 kelvin or is there a rounding difference?
- If I measure 1°C, what is the absolute temperature in kelvin?
- Why does 1°C become 274.15 K instead of another value?
- Can I use 1°C as 274 kelvin in chemistry, or is exact value needed?
- What’s the kelvin value for 1°C in physics equations?
Conversion Definitions
c: Celsius is a temperature scale where 0 degrees is the freezing point of water and 100 degrees is the boiling point under standard atmospheric pressure. It is used in most countries and many scientific applications, but can be confusing if absolute zero is important.
kelvin: Kelvin is the SI base unit for temperature. Its zero point is absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature where particle motion stop. Each kelvin unit is equal in size to one Celsius degree, but there are no negative kelvin values. Used everywhere in science.
Conversion FAQs
Can kelvin values ever be negative, if I start with a negative Celsius value?
No, kelvin values can not be negative. Even when Celsius is a negative number, when you add 273.15, the result stays above zero. Absolute zero (0 K) is the lowest possible temperature known, so kelvin never dips below that.
Why do scientists use kelvin instead of Celsius in experiments?
Kelvin is better for scientific calculations because it starts at absolute zero. This avoids confusion when doing math with temperature differences or ratios. Many equations in physics and chemistry need absolute temperatures, not relative ones.
Is there any situation where I shouldn’t just add 273.15 to Celsius to get kelvin?
For most conversions, you just add 273.15. But if you have a huge precision requirement, you may need more decimal places. Old tables or rare types of calculations might use slightly different reference points, but for daily science, just add 273.15.
What happens if I forget to add 273.15 and just use the Celsius value as kelvin?
If you skip the conversion and treat Celsius as kelvin, your result will be totally wrong for calculations that use absolute temperature. This could mess up gas laws, blackbody radiation, and other formulas, so always convert correctly.
