Convert Fahrenheit to Kelvin – Convert

Kelvin to Fahrenheit Example Problems

This entry was posted on May 3, 2018 by Todd Helmenstine

Thermometer with Celsius and Fahrenheit (Ged Carroll)

You may have the need to convert a temperature reading in Fahrenheit to the Kelvin absolute
temperature scale. The most likely reason is that someone assigned you a homework question for
practice. These two example problems show how to convert Fahrenheit to Kelvin and Kelvin to
Fahrenheit.

Fahrenheit to Kelvin Conversion Formula

The Kelvin temperature scale is related to and defined by the Celsius temperature scale. The
relationship between Kelvin and Celsius is expressed by the formula:
K = °C + 273.15
where
°C is the temperature in Celsius
K is the temperature in Kelvin.
Remember, Kelvin does not use a degree symbol (°) next to the K.
Now use the formula to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
°C = 5⁄9(°F – 32)
Put the second equation into the first equation.
K = 5⁄9(°F – 32) + 273.15
This gives us a conversion factor to convert Kelvin to Fahrenheit.
 

Convert Fahrenheit to Kelvin Example Problem

Question: The average body temperature of a person is 98.6 °F. What is the average body
temperature of a person in Kelvin?
Solution: Plug 96.8 into °F in the conversion factor above.
K = 5⁄9(°F – 32) + 273.15
K = 5⁄9(98.6 – 32) + 273.15
K = 5⁄9(66.6) + 273.15
K = 37 + 273.15
K = 310.15 K
Answer: The average body temperature of a person is 310.15 Kelvin.

Kelvin to Fahrenheit Conversion Formula

To find a formula to convert Kelvin to Fahrenheit, just solve the previous equation for K. An
easier method would be to use Celsius conversion factors as before. 
This time, solve the Celsius to Kelvin for K
°C = K – 273.15
Celsius is converted to Fahrenheit using the formula:
°F = 9⁄5°C + 32
where °F and °C are the temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius respectively.
If we plug the first equation into the second equation, we get a formula to convert Kelvin to
Fahrenheit.
°F = 9⁄5(K – 273.15) + 32
This is the same equation you would get if you solved the Fahrenheit to Kelvin conversion
for °F in the first section.

Convert Kelvin to Fahrenheit Example Problem

 
Question: Nitrogen is a liquid around 70 K. What is this temperature in Fahrenheit?
Solution: Plug 70 K into the conversion formula and solve for °F.
°F = 9⁄5(K – 273.15) + 32
°F = 9⁄5(70 – 273.15) + 32
°F = 9⁄5(-203.15) + 32
°F = -365.67 + 32
°F = -333.67 °F
Answer: 70 K is the same as -333.67 °F.
For more help, try these other temperature conversion example problems:

The average body temperature of a house cat is 101.5 °F. What is this

temperature in Celsius?
Solution:
The formula needed to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius is:
°C = 5⁄9(°F – 32)
where °F and °C are the temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius respectively.
Plug 101.5 °F into the formula
°C = 5⁄9(101.5 – 32)
°C = 5⁄9(69.5)
°C = 38.6 °C
Answer:
The average body temperature of a cat in Celsius is 38.6 °C.
Occasionally, you may need to convert a temperature in Celsius to Fahrenheit.
If you are an American, most often it will be to find the outside temperature of
a place just about everywhere else in the world that reports their
temperatures in Celsius. This example problem shows the steps necessary to
convert Celsius temperatures to the Fahrenheit scale.
Example Problem:
Dry ice, or frozen carbon dioxide sublimes (phase change between solid to
gas) at -78.5 °C under normal atmospheric pressures. What is this temperature
in Fahrenheit?
Solution:
The formula needed to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit is:
°F = 9⁄5°C + 32
where °F and °C are the temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius respectively.
To solve this, plug the celsius temperature, -78.5 °C into the formula.
°F = 9⁄5(-78.5) + 32
°F = -141.3 + 32
°F = -109.3 °F
Answer:
Dry ice sublimes at -109.3 °F under normal atmospheric pressure.