what is the purpose for the kelvin scale?

Answer 1

The person earlier who described the use of Kelvin temperatures in power laws does understand the "purpose" of the scale (I gave them a thumbs up as I read through). The other scales are rational for everyday use because they are tied to physical references that are near our range of daily experience.

It is fun to note that negative temperatures are possible on the Kelvin scale too. Situations where that happens are analogous to energy inversions in a laser... the distribution is "upside down." I tacked on a reference if you are interested.

Aloha

Answer 2

I'll try to give this a shot, but it has been many years since school. As I recall a Kelvin Scale degree is the same as Celsius, but instead of zero being at the freezing point of water it is at
-273C, or absolute zero. This is the point at which molecular activity ceases. Therefore, 0C = 273K. It is useful from a standpoint that it makes sense to have the origin of the temperature scale at this theoretical minimum. It makes the math a bit easier and more understandable when operating at very low temps as well.

Answer 3

what do you mean what is the purpose of it, kelvin decided that if all heat and all pressure was removed from an enviroment that we would get what he called absolute zero which, to compare it to the more common layman scale, celcius is -267degrees celcius approx is equivalent to zero kelvin he just starts at a different place, but the incremental step is the same

Answer 4

Two practical applications for it are.....

In order to do calculations with the behavior of gases, one must do the calculations from the frame of reference of absolute zero, and thus must use the Kelvin scale. Example: combined gas law

Also, to do some heat calculations, such as blackbody radiation calculations, one must also use frame of reference of absolute zero and needs the Kelvin scale.

Just 2 uses for you now. Hope that helps..

Answer 5

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of a set of particles. It makes sense for the temperature to be zero if the energy is zero. The temperature measurement is then proportional to the energy. The ideal gas law can be of the form PV = nRT instead of PV = nR(T-T0). That's why it helps to start at zero.

It uses Centigrade (Celsius) degrees rather than Fahrenheit degrees because the former was chosen as part of the metric system and used for most scientific work.

Answer 6

It's a really nice scale to use if you want to calculate the volume that a particular mass of an ideal gas will occupy at a particular temperature and pressure for example. Or for calculating radiative heat transfer (it's a power law w.r.t. absolute temperature so F and C won't do it has to be K). To calculate the energy transfer in heat engines, also for noise temperatures (in electronics for example). Anything where the temperature actually has a physical meaning.

Answer 7

It's more suited for scientific purposes than Celsius or Fahrenheit. Zero in celsius is when water freezes, zero in kelvin is absolute zero, as in there is no more heat left in the system.

Answer 8

I'm so cool, i have to be measured in Kelvin!!!!!!
it's just the universal scientific scale, for really hot and really cold stuffs, i think.

Answer 9

Its an absolute scale, meaning the values range from absolute zero to infinity. Its useful because unlike celcius and farenheit which range from infinity to negative infinity (theoretically), it has a rational zero which actually indicates the absence of temperature.

Answer 10

to extend the reference point to measure very low temperatures with no inclusive heat as the bias reference point. so that everything is looking positive from the absolute 0 reference point. in the works of a perpetual positive optimist.