Absolute scale

Absolute Scale is a system of measurement that is not relative but is based on fixed and universally accepted standards or constants. The most common examples of absolute scales are the Kelvin scale in thermodynamics and the Rankine scale in the United States.

Overview

The concept of an absolute scale is fundamental in fields such as physics, chemistry, and engineering. It provides a consistent and universally accepted framework for quantifying and comparing physical properties such as temperature, pressure, and volume.

Kelvin Scale

The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale used in the physical sciences. It is named after the Scottish physicist William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, who first proposed it in 1848. The Kelvin scale is based on the thermodynamic temperature of absolute zero, the point at which all thermal motion ceases.

Rankine Scale

The Rankine scale is an absolute temperature scale used primarily in the United States. It is named after the Scottish engineer and physicist William John Macquorn Rankine. Like the Kelvin scale, the Rankine scale is based on absolute zero, but it uses the Fahrenheit scale's increment of 1 degree.

Absolute Zero

Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature, at which all thermal motion ceases. On the Kelvin scale, absolute zero is 0 K, and on the Rankine scale, it is 0 °R. Absolute zero is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.

See Also

• Thermodynamic temperature
• International System of Units
• Measurement