20 degrees Celsius equals 293.15 Kelvin.
To convert Celsius to Kelvin, you add 273.15 to the Celsius temperature because Kelvin starts from absolute zero, which is -273.15°C. So, 20 + 273.15 gives the equivalent temperature in kelvin.
Conversion Tool
Result in kelvin:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert Celsius to Kelvin is:
K = °C + 273.15
This works because Kelvin scale start at absolute zero, which is -273.15°C. Adding 273.15 to the Celsius temperature shifts the scale to start from zero kelvin.
Example with 20°C:
- Take the Celsius temperature: 20°C
- Add 273.15: 20 + 273.15 = 293.15
- The result is 293.15 K
Conversion Example
- Convert 5°C to Kelvin:
- Start with 5°C
- Add 273.15: 5 + 273.15 = 278.15 K
- Result is 278.15 Kelvin
- Convert -10°C to Kelvin:
- Start with -10°C
- Add 273.15: -10 + 273.15 = 263.15 K
- Temperature in Kelvin is 263.15
- Convert 37°C to Kelvin:
- Take 37°C
- Add 273.15: 37 + 273.15 = 310.15 K
- Kelvin equivalent is 310.15
- Convert 0°C to Kelvin:
- Start with zero degrees Celsius
- Add 273.15: 0 + 273.15 = 273.15 K
- The Kelvin temperature is 273.15
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 in the left column, and the right column gives the equivalent Kelvin values by adding 273.15. To find the Kelvin temperature for any Celsius value between -5.0 and 45.0, simply look up the Celsius value and read across.
Related Conversion Questions
- What is 20 degrees Celsius equal to in kelvin?
- How do I convert 20°C to K using a simple formula?
- Is 20 Celsius above or below room temperature in kelvin?
- What Kelvin temperature corresponds to 20°C in science?
- Can 20°C be converted directly to kelvin without errors?
- Why does converting 20 Celsius to Kelvin add 273.15?
- How does 20°C compare to kelvin temperature scale?
Conversion Definitions
Celsius: Celsius, also called centigrade, is a temperature scale where 0 degrees represents the freezing point of water and 100 degrees represents boiling point at sea level. It’s widely used around the world for weather, cooking, and science temperature measurements.
Kelvin: Kelvin is the SI unit of temperature, starting at absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature where all molecular motion stops. Unlike Celsius, kelvin does not use degrees and is used mainly in physics and chemistry for precise temperature measurements.
Conversion FAQs
Can Celsius temperatures be negative when converted to Kelvin?
No, Kelvin temperatures cannot be negative because zero kelvin is absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature. Even if Celsius values are below zero, when converted to Kelvin by adding 273.15, the result remains positive.
Why is 273.15 added during Celsius to Kelvin conversion?
273.15 is added because the Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, which is -273.15°C. By adding 273.15 to Celsius values, the scale shifts so that zero kelvin represents this absolute zero point, aligning the two scales properly.
Is Kelvin used in daily weather reports like Celsius?
No, Kelvin is mostly used in scientific contexts such as physics or chemistry. Weather reports and everyday temperature measurements use Celsius or Fahrenheit, because Kelvin values are less intuitive for daily life.
Can I convert Kelvin back to Celsius easily?
Yes, to convert Kelvin to Celsius, subtract 273.15 from the Kelvin temperature. This reverses the addition done in the Celsius to Kelvin conversion and gives the original Celsius value.
Does converting temperature affect physical properties?
Converting temperature scales only changes the numeric representation, not the actual temperature or physical state. Whether in Celsius or Kelvin, the temperature of a substance remains the same physically.