The result of converting 273 kelv to celsius is 0°C.
When you convert 273 kelv into celsius, you use a simple subtraction. Since 0 kelv is absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature, and 0°C is the freezing point of water, the difference is 273.15 units. That means 273 kelv is just about at the freezing point, but a tiny bit colder. Scientists, students, and engineers use this conversion when comparing temperature data, or doing calculations in physics or chemistry labs.
Conversion Tool
Result in celsius:
Conversion Formula
To convert kelv to celsius, the formula is:
Celsius = kelv – 273.15
Kelv measures temperature starting from absolute zero, and celsius starts from the freezing point of water. The difference between 0 kelv and 0°C is 273.15, so you just subtract 273.15 from kelv value to get celsius.
Example with 273 kelv:
- Start with the kelv value: 273
- Subtract 273.15: 273 – 273.15 = -0.15
- Rounded, this gives 0°C (since 273.15 kelv is exactly 0°C, and 273 kelv is -0.15°C)
- So, 273 kelv = -0.15°C
Conversion Example
- 250 kelv to celsius:
- Take 250 kelv
- Subtract 273.15: 250 – 273.15 = -23.15
- So, 250 kelv is -23.15°C
- 280 kelv to celsius:
- Start with 280 kelv
- Subtract 273.15: 280 – 273.15 = 6.85
- So, 280 kelv is 6.85°C
- 298 kelv to celsius:
- Begin with 298 kelv
- Subtract 273.15: 298 – 273.15 = 24.85
- So, 298 kelv is 24.85°C
- 265 kelv to celsius:
- Input 265 kelv
- Subtract 273.15: 265 – 273.15 = -8.15
- So, 265 kelv is -8.15°C
Conversion Chart
This chart lists kelv values from 248.0 to 298.0, converted to celsius. Look for the kelv value in the left column, and the celsius equivalent is in the right column. If you need an in-between value, estimate by checking the closest kelv number above or below yours.
| Kelv | Celsius |
|---|---|
| 248.0 | -25.15 |
| 253.0 | -20.15 |
| 258.0 | -15.15 |
| 263.0 | -10.15 |
| 268.0 | -5.15 |
| 273.0 | -0.15 |
| 278.0 | 4.85 |
| 283.0 | 9.85 |
| 288.0 | 14.85 |
| 293.0 | 19.85 |
| 298.0 | 24.85 |
Related Conversion Questions
- Why does 273 kelv convert almost exactly to 0 degrees celsius?
- What happens if I use 273 instead of 273.15 when converting kelv to celsius?
- Is the freezing point of water always at 273 kelv?
- How accurate is the conversion from 273 kelv to celsius in real-world experiments?
- Can temperatures below 273 kelv exist in natural conditions?
- Does altitude or pressure affect the meaning of 273 kelv versus 0°C?
- What is the difference between 273 kelv and 273.15 kelv in celsius temperature?
Conversion Definitions
kelv: The kelv (K) is a unit for measuring temperature, used in science and engineering. It starts from absolute zero, the point where molecules have the least possible energy. One kelv equals one celsius degree, but the zero points are offset by 273.15. It does not use the word “degree”.
celsius: Celsius (°C) is a temperature scale where 0°C is the freezing point of water, and 100°C is the boiling point at normal pressure. Used worldwide in weather, cooking, and science. Each degree is the same size as a kelv, but the zero is shifted by 273.15. It’s based on water properties.
Conversion FAQs
Is 273 kelv considered as freezing or melting point of water?
273 kelv is just below the freezing point of water. The true freezing point is 273.15 kelv (0°C). So, at 273 kelv, water is just slightly under freezing, so ice would not melt, and liquid water could begin to freeze at that temperature.
Why is 273.15 subtracted instead of 273 during conversion?
The difference comes from how the kelv and celsius scales are defined. The zero point for celsius is the freezing point of water, which is exactly 273.15 kelv, not 273 kelv. For precision, always subtract 273.15 to avoid tiny rounding mistakes.
Do you ever use negative kelv values?
Negative kelv values do not exist, since 0 kelv is the coldest physically possible temperature. Nothing in the universe can reach below absolute zero. So, in calculations, a kelv value must always be zero or higher, never negative.
Are kelv and celsius degrees the same size?
Yes, the steps between each number are the same size for both kelv and celsius. If the temperature rises by 1 kelv, it rises by 1°C as well. Only the starting points differ, so converting is a matter of adding or subtracting 273.15.