kelvin

Kelvin temperature scale

Kelvin temperature scale a temperature scale having an absolute zero below which temperatures do not exist. Absolute zero , or 0°K, is the temperature at which molecular energy is a minimum, and it corresponds to a temperature of -273.15° on the Celsius temperature scale . The Kelvin degree is the same size as the Celsius degree; hence the two reference temperatures for Celsius, the freezing point of water (0°C), and the boiling point of water (100°C), correspond to 273.15°K and 373.15°K, respectively. When writing temperatures in the Kelvin scale, it is the convention to omit the degree symbol and merely use the letter K. The temperature scale is named after the British mathematician and physicist William Thomson Kelvin , who proposed it in 1848. Another absolute temperature scale, the Rankine temperature scale , is used by some engineers. See also Fahrenheit temperature scale .

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kelvin

kelvin Symbol K. The SI unit of thermodynamic temperature equal to the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water. The magnitude of the kelvin is equal to that of the degree Celsius (centigrade), but a temperature expressed in degrees Celsius is numerically equal to the temperature in kelvins less 273.15 (i.e. °C = K – 273.15). The unit is named after Lord Kelvin (1824–1907).

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"kelvin." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"kelvin." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-kelvin.html

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Kelvin

Kelvin ♂ Modern given name, first used in the 1920s and increasing in popularity from the 1950s onwards. It is taken from the name of the Scottish river which runs through Glasgow into the Clyde (compare Clyde). Its choice as a given name may also have been influenced by names such as Kevin and Melvin and the fame of the scientist Lord Kelvin (1824–1907).

Variant: Kelvyn.

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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Kelvin." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Kelvin." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Kelvin.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Kelvin." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Kelvin.html

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Kelvin scale

Kelvin scale A scale of temperature proposed by Kelvin ( William Thomson), which does not include negative values. The unit of the scale is the kelvin (K). The base of the scale, absolute zero, is the lowest possible temperature for all substances at which no molecule possesses any heat energy. The triple point of water is given as 273.16 K.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Kelvin scale." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Kelvin scale." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Kelvinscale.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Kelvin scale." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Kelvinscale.html

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kelvin scale

kelvin scale A temperature scale in which the zero point is defined to be equal to −273.15° Celsius. This zero point is also known as absolute zero. The thermodynamic temperature is expressed in kelvin, symbol K.

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"kelvin scale." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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kelvin

kelvin abbr. K, official name in the International System of Units (SI) for the degree of temperature as measured on the Kelvin temperature scale .

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kelvin

kel·vin / ˈkelvən/ (abbr.: K) • n. the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature, equal in magnitude to the degree Celsius.

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"kelvin." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"kelvin." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-kelvin005.html

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Kelvin scale

Kel·vin scale • n. a scale of temperature with absolute zero as zero, and the triple point of water as exactly 273.16 degrees.

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kelvin

kelvin See KELVIN SCALE.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "kelvin." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "kelvin." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-kelvin.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "kelvin." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-kelvin.html

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kelvin

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"kelvin." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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