Question

Convert the following temperatures to the celsius scale.
A) 293 K
B) 470 K

Answer 1

Remember what is celsius scale? The Celsius scale, also known as the centigrade scale ( $^0C$ ), is a temperature scale based on 0 degree for the freezing point of water and 100 degree for the boiling point of water. This scale was first introduced by (and is named after) the Swedish physicist, astronomer, and engineer Anders Celsius. Initially, the celsius scale used 0o in order to denote the boiling point of water and 100 in order to denote freezing point of water. These values were later inverted to 0o for the freezing point of water and 100 degree for the boiling point of water. This form of the celsius scale gained widespread use.

Complete solution:
Before solving the simple conversion it is important to understand the concept of temperature scales and their interconversions.
Celsius is a temperature range in which 0 degrees reflects the freezing point of water, and 100 degrees is the boiling point of water at the normal atmosphere, which is the mean barometric pressure at the mean sea level.
As we know ${0^0}C = 273.16K$. For convenience, we take ${0^0}C = 273K$ after rounding off the decimal.
A mathematical equation that gives the relationship between the Celsius and Kelvin scales:
$K{ = ^0}C + 273$
This simple formula states that to find Kelvin temperature (K).This scale is also called SI scale of temperature. It is mostly used by the scientific community. It was designed to honour Lord Kelvin, a renowned physicist. The lower standard point on this scale is 273K and upper standard point is 373K. There 273 divisions below lower standard point. Its 0K is equal to -273$^0C$ . To convert Celsius temperature to kelvin temperature the following formulas are used.
Temperature in Kelvin = Temperature in $^0C$ + 273
To convert temperature from Celsius scale to kelvin scale the value is increased numerically by 273. Therefore, the temperature on the kelvin scale and Celsius scale are related to each other as follows.
$T\left( K \right) = T\left( {^0C} \right) + 273$
To change a temperature on the Kelvin scale to the Celsius scale we have to subtract 273 from the given temperature

(a) $293K = 293 - 273 = {20^0}C$ $K$ $- {273^0}C$
(b) $470K = 470 - 273 = {197^0}C$

Hence the celsius temperatures are 20 $^0C$ and 197 $^0C$

Note: Always note that celsius temperature value can be determined by subtracting 273.15 from the Kelvin temperature value The Celsius and the kelvin scales are used all over the world for scientific measurements. These scales are also found to be more convenient than the scales introduced by Fahrenheit and were commonly used till recently.