The conversion of 20 degrees Celsius to Kelvin results in 293.15 K.
To convert Celsius to Kelvin, you add 273.15 to the Celsius temperature. This shifts the Celsius scale so that absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature, aligns with zero Kelvin.
Conversion Tool
Result in kelvin:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert Celsius to Kelvin is very simple:
K = °C + 273.15
This formula works because Celsius scale is based on water’s freezing point at 0°C, while Kelvin scale starts from absolute zero, which is -273.15°C. So adding 273.15 shifts Celsius values up to the Kelvin scale.
For example, converting 20°C to Kelvin:
- Start with 20 (the Celsius value).
- Add 273.15 to it: 20 + 273.15 = 293.15.
- The result is 293.15 K.
Conversion Example
- Convert 0°C to Kelvin:
- Add 273.15 to 0: 0 + 273.15 = 273.15 K.
- This is the freezing point of water in Kelvin.
- Convert -10°C to Kelvin:
- Negative Celsius values add to 273.15 still: -10 + 273.15 = 263.15 K.
- This is colder than freezing point, in Kelvin.
- Convert 37°C (human body temperature):
- 37 + 273.15 = 310.15 K.
- This value is used in medical and scientific contexts.
Conversion Chart
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
|---|---|
| -5.0 | 268.15 |
| 0.0 | 273.15 |
| 5.0 | 278.15 |
| 10.0 | 283.15 |
| 15.0 | 288.15 |
| 20.0 | 293.15 |
| 25.0 | 298.15 |
| 30.0 | 303.15 |
| 35.0 | 308.15 |
| 40.0 | 313.15 |
| 45.0 | 318.15 |
This chart shows Celsius temperatures with their equivalent Kelvin values. To find a Kelvin value, find your Celsius temperature in the left column, and then read the corresponding Kelvin value on the right. It helps quick reference without calculation.
Related Conversion Questions
- What is 20 degrees Celsius in Kelvin temperature scale?
- How do I convert 20°C to kelvin using a formula?
- Why is 20 Celsius equal to 293.15 Kelvin?
- Is 20°C hotter or colder than 293 Kelvin?
- How to change 20 degrees Celsius into kelvin units?
- What temperature in kelvin corresponds to 20 Celsius?
- Can I convert 20 Celsius to Kelvin without a calculator?
Conversion Definitions
Celsius: Celsius is a temperature scale where 0 degrees is the freezing point of water and 100 degrees is the boiling point at sea level. It is used worldwide for weather, cooking, and science, based on the metric system and easier for everyday temperature measurement.
Kelvin: Kelvin is an absolute temperature scale used in science, starting at absolute zero (-273.15°C), where all thermal motion stops. It measures temperature in increments identical to Celsius but without negative numbers, useful for physics and engineering.
Conversion FAQs
Why does adding 273.15 convert Celsius to Kelvin?
Adding 273.15 shifts the Celsius scale so that zero Kelvin aligns with absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature. This offset makes Kelvin an absolute scale starting from no thermal energy, unlike Celsius which is relative to water’s freezing point.
Can Kelvin temperatures be negative?
No, Kelvin temperatures can’t be negative because it starts at absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature. Negative Kelvin would mean less than no thermal energy, which isn’t physically possible according to thermodynamics.
Is 20 Celsius considered warm or cold in Kelvin?
At 293.15 K, 20 Celsius is a mild temperature, comfortable for humans. Although Kelvin numbers look larger, they represent the same physical temperature but shifted to an absolute scale.
Does the conversion formula change at high or low temperatures?
The formula to convert Celsius to Kelvin stays the same regardless of temperature. The linear relationship means you always add 273.15, no matter if the temperature is very high or very low.
Why is Kelvin used in science rather than Celsius?
Kelvin is preferred in scientific fields because it avoids negative values and is based on absolute zero, allowing calculations involving temperature to be physically meaningful. It simplifies thermodynamic equations and ensures consistency.