How do you convert Celsius to Kelvin?

To convert Celsius to Kelvin, the formula involves adding 273.15 to the Celsius temperature. In most contexts, including scientific usage, the formula is simplified to adding 273 to make calculations easier, even though it is slightly less precise. This approach indicates that the Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero—where all molecular motion ceases—while the Celsius scale starts at the freezing point of water (0°C).

When you add 273 to the Celsius temperature, you effectively shift the values to the Kelvin scale, which maintains the same incremental degree size as Celsius but is offset to account for the absolute starting point of temperature measurement.

The incorrect options vary in their arithmetic or conceptual approach. Some suggest subtracting or multiplying, which would not preserve the relationship and offset between the two scales. Understanding this conversion is essential in fields such as physics and chemistry, where absolute temperature measurements are critical.