A physical chemist measures the temperature [tex]$T$[/tex] inside a vacuum chamber. Here is the result:
[tex]$T=-19 .{ }^{\circ} C$[/tex]
Convert [tex]$T$[/tex] to SI units. Round your answer to 3 significant figures.
Answer (2)
Convert Celsius to Kelvin using the formula: K = C + 273.15 .
Substitute C = − 19 into the formula: K = − 19 + 273.15 = 254.15 .
Round the result to 3 significant figures: K = 254 .
The temperature in Kelvin is 254 K.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a temperature in Celsius, T = − 19 ∘ C , and we need to convert it to Kelvin (K), which is the SI unit for temperature.
Conversion Formula The formula to convert Celsius to Kelvin is: K = C + 273.15 where K is the temperature in Kelvin and C is the temperature in Celsius.
Substitution Substitute the given Celsius temperature, C = − 19 , into the formula: K = − 19 + 273.15
Calculation Calculate the value of K: K = 254.15
Rounding We need to round the result to 3 significant figures. Since the result 254.15 has 5 significant figures, we round it to 3 significant figures, which gives us 254 .
Final Answer Therefore, the temperature in Kelvin, rounded to 3 significant figures, is 254 K.
Examples
Converting temperature from Celsius to Kelvin is essential in various scientific and engineering applications. For instance, in thermodynamics, many calculations require temperature to be in Kelvin because it is an absolute scale. Imagine you are designing a cooling system for a computer. Knowing the operating temperature in Celsius, you must convert it to Kelvin to accurately calculate heat transfer rates and ensure the system's stability. This conversion helps engineers avoid errors and design efficient and reliable systems.
To convert -19 °C to Kelvin, use the formula K = C + 273.15. By substituting -19 for C, we find K = 254.15 and rounding gives K = 254. Thus, the temperature in Kelvin is 254 K.
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