this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2024
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First of all, the °C is not the metric SI unit for temperature. K (Kelvin) is.
Second, even with Kelvin, nearly all temperatures that matter for normal human issues happen to be below 4000K, usually way below that mark. And with most of those temperatures, about all digits usually count. A core body temperature of 310K or 313K makes a BIG difference for the person involved.
Celsius is the SI unit of temperature. Kelvin is the SI unit of thermodynamic temperature. They're both defined in SI.
You can say anything with confidence and people will believe it
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_System_of_Units
Kelvin is the base unit. Celsius is a derived unit, just like Watt or Newton. But they're all SI.
I've seen mK used numerous times, but I haven't seen, like MK for internal temperatures of stars or things. I imagine because those are more "for fun" numbers while the precise temperatures in a low temperature physics lab are four technical purposes.
Isn't Kelvin just Celsius+273.15?
Celsius uses an arbitrary reference point (freezing point of water). Kelvin uses the same sized units, but is referenced from absolute zero. While this seems just as arbitrary, it actually makes some scientific calculations a lot easier.
Basically, scientists have been working to slot the various base units together in a neat and orderly manner. Kelvin fits this far better than Celsius, and so became the baseline SI unit.
Yep! Celsius does make sense for our everyday life
I fully agree with that. It's also quite easy to shift between the 2. I just had the difference drilled into me way too much, at university.