Temperature Scales The most commonly used scales are Farenheit and Celsius. The Kelvin scale is related to the Celsius scale. The Kelvin scale starts at what is referred to as Absolute Zero (-273.15 Celsius [C]); Celsius starts at the freezing point of water. Kelvin: T(K) = T(C) + 273.15 Celsius: T(C) = (5/9)*[T(F)-32 F] -- F stands for Farenheit At very high temperatures, there is little difference between Kelvin and Celsius temperatures. For example, the average surface temperature of the Sun is 5,800 K which is 5,527 C. The two temperatures are nearly the same. Farenheit, on the other hand, is much different. The Sun at 5,800 K is around 10,000 F! T(K) = 5,800 Kelvin = 1.8 x 5,800 = 10,440 above absolute zero ===> 10,440 - 460 ~ 9,800 F.