Which temperature scale is an absolute scale used widely in scientific measurements?

Which temperature scale is an absolute scale used widely in scientific measurements?

• A. Kelvin
• B. Celsius
• C. Fahrenheit
• D. Rankine

Answer: (A)

Absolute temperature scales start at the lowest possible temperature, absolute zero, where particle motion is minimized. The Kelvin scale does this and uses the same sized unit as Celsius (1 K = 1 °C). That makes it the standard in science because equations in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics require temperatures defined from absolute zero. For example, 0 K equals −273.15 °C, and a measurement of 300 K corresponds to about 27 °C. Celsius and Fahrenheit are tied to water’s freezing/boiling points, so their zero points are arbitrary and can be negative; they’re not absolute. Rankine is also an absolute scale, but Kelvin is the one most widely used in scientific measurements worldwide.

Absolute temperature scales start at the lowest possible temperature, absolute zero, where particle motion is minimized. The Kelvin scale does this and uses the same sized unit as Celsius (1 K = 1 °C). That makes it the standard in science because equations in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics require temperatures defined from absolute zero. For example, 0 K equals −273.15 °C, and a measurement of 300 K corresponds to about 27 °C. Celsius and Fahrenheit are tied to water’s freezing/boiling points, so their zero points are arbitrary and can be negative; they’re not absolute. Rankine is also an absolute scale, but Kelvin is the one most widely used in scientific measurements worldwide.