Which temperature scale defines zero as the point where no more energy can be removed from matter?

Which temperature scale defines zero as the point where no more energy can be removed from matter?

• A. Fahrenheit Scale
• B. Kelvin Scale
• C. Celsius Scale
• D. Rankine Scale

Answer: (B)

Absolute zero means the lowest possible temperature, the point at which a system would have no energy left to lose. The Kelvin scale is defined so that zero corresponds to that energy minimum, so 0 kelvin represents the limit beyond which you cannot remove heat from matter. That’s why Kelvin is the best fit for this idea. Celsius and Fahrenheit define zero at the freezing point of water, which is an arbitrary reference rather than an energy minimum, so they don’t mark the energy-limiting point. Rankine also uses an absolute-zero reference, but Kelvin is the standard scientific scale used for this concept. Remember, 0 K equals -273.15°C.

Absolute zero means the lowest possible temperature, the point at which a system would have no energy left to lose. The Kelvin scale is defined so that zero corresponds to that energy minimum, so 0 kelvin represents the limit beyond which you cannot remove heat from matter. That’s why Kelvin is the best fit for this idea. Celsius and Fahrenheit define zero at the freezing point of water, which is an arbitrary reference rather than an energy minimum, so they don’t mark the energy-limiting point. Rankine also uses an absolute-zero reference, but Kelvin is the standard scientific scale used for this concept. Remember, 0 K equals -273.15°C.