1500 kelvin (K) is equal to 1226.85 degrees Celsius (°C).
To convert kelvin to degrees Celsius, you subtract 273.15 from the kelvin value. This conversion is necessary because kelvin and Celsius scales share the same incremental size, but kelvin starts at absolute zero, while Celsius starts at the freezing point of water.
Conversion Tool
Result in degrees:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert kelvin (K) to degrees Celsius (°C) is:
°C = K – 273.15
This works because both kelvin and Celsius scales have the same size unit step, but kelvin starts at absolute zero (0 K), while Celsius starts at the freezing point of water (0 °C). So, subtracting 273.15 shifts the zero point correctly. For example, if you have 1500 K:
- Start with 1500 K
- Subtract 273.15
- 1500 – 273.15 = 1226.85 °C
This means 1500 K equals 1226.85 degrees Celsius.
Conversion Example
- Example 1: Convert 300 K to degrees Celsius
- Start with 300 K
- 300 – 273.15 = 26.85 °C
- Result: 26.85 degrees Celsius
- Example 2: Convert 1000 K to degrees Celsius
- Start with 1000 K
- 1000 – 273.15 = 726.85 °C
- Result: 726.85 degrees Celsius
- Example 3: Convert 0 K to degrees Celsius
- Start with 0 K
- 0 – 273.15 = -273.15 °C
- Result: -273.15 degrees Celsius (absolute zero)
- Example 4: Convert 500 K to degrees Celsius
- Start with 500 K
- 500 – 273.15 = 226.85 °C
- Result: 226.85 degrees Celsius
- Example 5: Convert 2000 K to degrees Celsius
- Start with 2000 K
- 2000 – 273.15 = 1726.85 °C
- Result: 1726.85 degrees Celsius
Conversion Chart
| Kelvin (K) | Degrees Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| 1475.0 | 1201.85 |
| 1477.5 | 1204.35 |
| 1480.0 | 1206.85 |
| 1482.5 | 1209.35 |
| 1485.0 | 1211.85 |
| 1487.5 | 1214.35 |
| 1490.0 | 1216.85 |
| 1492.5 | 1219.35 |
| 1495.0 | 1221.85 |
| 1497.5 | 1224.35 |
| 1500.0 | 1226.85 |
| 1502.5 | 1229.35 |
| 1505.0 | 1231.85 |
| 1507.5 | 1234.35 |
| 1510.0 | 1236.85 |
| 1512.5 | 1239.35 |
| 1515.0 | 1241.85 |
| 1517.5 | 1244.35 |
| 1520.0 | 1246.85 |
| 1522.5 | 1249.35 |
| 1525.0 | 1251.85 |
The chart shows kelvin values in the left column, with their corresponding degrees Celsius values on the right. To find the Celsius equivalent for any kelvin value in this range, just look it up in the left column and read across. This helps quick reference without calculation.
Related Conversion Questions
- What is 1500 kelvin in Celsius degrees exactly?
- How to convert 1500 K to °C manually?
- Is 1500 kelvin hotter than 1200 degrees Celsius?
- Why subtract 273.15 when converting 1500 K to degrees?
- How many degrees Celsius corresponds to 1500 kelvin?
- What temperature in °C equals 1500 K on the Celsius scale?
- Can I convert 1500 kelvin to degrees without a calculator?
Conversion Definitions
k (Kelvin): Kelvin is the base unit of temperature in the International System of Units (SI). It measures absolute temperature starting at absolute zero, where particles have minimum thermal motion. Kelvin scale increments are the same size as Celsius degrees but shifted so 0 K equals -273.15 °C.
degrees (Celsius): Degrees Celsius is a temperature scale used for everyday temperature measurements. It defines 0 °C as water’s freezing point and 100 °C as boiling point at sea level. Celsius degrees have equal increments to kelvin, but their zero points differ, making conversion a matter of shifting scales.
Conversion FAQs
Can kelvin values be negative like Celsius degrees?
No, kelvin cannot be negative because it starts at absolute zero, the lowest theoretically possible temperature. Celsius can be negative, representing temperatures below freezing, but kelvin scale only uses zero and positive values.
Why is 273.15 subtracted when converting kelvin to degrees Celsius?
The subtraction of 273.15 aligns the zero points of two scales. Kelvin starts at absolute zero (0 K), while Celsius zero is at the freezing point of water. So, to find the Celsius temperature from kelvin, you remove 273.15 to shift the scale.
Is the kelvin to degrees conversion always accurate for real-world conditions?
The conversion formula K – 273.15 is exact for the temperature scales themselves, but real-world temperature measurements can have errors from instruments or environmental conditions. The formula is mathematically precise for converting values.
Can this conversion be used for temperature readings in everyday weather?
Yes, but kelvin is rarely used in daily weather reporting. Celsius or Fahrenheit are preferred. However, scientific contexts like physics or astronomy use kelvin, making conversion necessary when comparing temperatures.
What happens if I convert kelvin to Fahrenheit instead of degrees Celsius?
Converting kelvin to Fahrenheit requires two steps: first converting kelvin to Celsius using the K – 273.15 formula, then converting Celsius to Fahrenheit by multiplying by 9/5 and adding 32. This gives Fahrenheit degrees instead of Celsius.