Absolute Temperature Scale


Absolute zero would be defined as the point where there is no motion and all energy is removed.

There are the two common temperature scales, the Celsius scale and the Fahrenheit scale. Both scales have attributed to them absolute scales, the Kelvin scale and the Rankine scale, respectively. Absolute zero for both the Kelvin and Rankine scales is represented by the number 0. The Kelvin and Rankine scales are absolute temperature scales because the number 0 represents absolute zero.

In other words absolute zero can be represented by 0 K and 0 R. The absolute temperature is the temperature with respect to absolute zero, or a temperature as defined by the Kelvin or Rankine scale.

The Kelvin scale is related to the Celsius scale by a number of 273.15. That is:

K = °C + 273.15

Similarly, the Rankine scale is related to the Fahrenheit scale by a number of 459.69. That is:

R = °F + 459.67


The number 0 for the Celsius scale and Fahrenheit scale represent different things.

For the Celsius scale 0 °C refers to the freezing point of water and 100 °C refers to the boiling point of water. For the Fahrenheit scale 0 °F refers to the temperature of brine (see Wikipedia article here about the Fahrenheit scale). Also, for the Fahrenheit scale 32 °F refers to the freezing point of water and 211.97 °F refers to the boiling point of water.