Definition:Kelvin

Definition

The kelvin is the SI base unit of absolute temperature.

Its two reference points are:

$0 \ \mathrm K$, which is set at absolute zero, the temperature at which all thermal motion stops

$273 \cdotp 16 \ \mathrm K$, which is set at the triple point of water.

Symbol

$\mathrm K$

The symbol for the kelvin is $\mathrm K$.

Note that, unlike the symbols for other temperature scales, there is no degree symbol used here: ${}^\circ \mathrm K$ is technically incorrect.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is \mathrm K .

Source of Name

This entry was named for Lord Kelvin.

Sources

• 1976: Ralph J. Smith: Circuits, Devices and Systems (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Electrical Quantities: Definitions and Laws: The International System of Units
• 1976: Ralph J. Smith: Circuits, Devices and Systems (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Electrical Quantities: Definitions and Laws: The International System of Units: Table $1$-$1$ Basic Quantities
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Entry: kelvin
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Entry: kelvin
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Entry: kelvin