Kelvin

Kelvin is a scale of measure for temperature.

• It is also called the Kelvin scale.
• It is a standard Imperial metric.

Description (Specifications)

The Kelvin scale is a system for measuring temperature. It is divided into degrees (symbol º).

It is a temperature scale where zero Kelvin (0°K) represents absolute zero, the theoretical lowest possible temperature, and each degree Kelvin (°K) is equivalent to one degree Celsius (°C).

• It is an absolute scale, meaning it has no negative values.

Temperature Benchmarks

Absolute zero (0°K) on the Kelvin scale represents the lowest possible temperature that can theoretically be reached and is equivalent to -273.15°C. At absolute zero, the kinetic energy of particles is minimal, and there is no thermal motion. Water-ice melts at 273.15°K, and boils at 373.15°K at an atmospheric ressure of 1.0 atm.

History & Background (Dossier)

The Kelvin scale was defined as a means of defining temperature on Terra prior to the foundation of the Terran Confederation: it is named for William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, a Terran mathematician born around -2695. Technologists found the Kelvin scale useful as the concept of the Technology Level and standardized ideas about sophont society development began to take form.

Habitability Range

Habitability range indicates the range of temperatures that humans can typically survive within.

The values provided below represent a very low technological level, typically somewhere around TL–1 (a level of technology capable of providing suitable clothing and shelter). Use of more advanced technology widens the range of temperatures that can be endured and increases the level of comfort.

• 0°K is absolute zero, theoretically the coldest possible temperature.
• 253°K is the lower limit of human habitability (Low Temperatures).
• 273°K is the lower limit for human comfort (Low Temperatures).
• 288°K is the optimum temperature for human settlement (Moderate Temperatures).
• 303°K is the upper limit of human comfort (High Temperatures).
• 323°K is the upper limit of human habitability (Very High Temperatures).

Other sophont species are generally adapted to different temperature ranges.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), 615.
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS

This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Kelvin. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. The text of Wikipedia is available under the Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.