•
•Want
temperature scale where energy is proportional to T
–Celsius scale is “arbitrary” (Fahrenheit even more so)
•0o C = freezing point of
water
•100o C = boiling point of
water
–By experiment, available energy = 0 at
“Absolute Zero” = –273oC (-459.7oF)
–Define “Kelvin” scale with same step size
as Celsius, but 0K = -273oC
= Absolute Zero
–
•Use
Kelvin Scale for most of work in this course
–Available energy is proportional to T, making
equations simple (really! OK,
simpler)
–273K = freezing point of water
–373K = boiling point of water
–300K
approximately room temperature