A kelvin (or K) is a unit of temperature named after Earth physicist and engineer Lord Kelvin. The measurement of 273.15 kelvin is equal to 0 °Celsius, whereas zero kelvin is "absolute zero", or the absence of any thermal motion (heat).
Comparative list of temperatures[]
- A geologically unstable "mad planet", where the Soul of the Skorr was believed to be located, containing constant earthquakes, gravitic shifts, tidal waves, and a temperature that varied from 20 kelvin to 204 °C above. (TAS: "The Jihad")
20 K equals −253.15 °C.
- Geordi La Forge noted that the environment within the containment module L73 was operating as programmed at "97 °kelvin". (TNG: "The Child")
97 K equals −176.15 °C.
- In order to free the bio-neural gel packs aboard the USS Voyager from a viral infection caused by schplict, the interior of the ship was heated to 360 kelvin to simulate a fever. (VOY: "Learning Curve")
360 K equals 86.85 °C.
- A dish devised by Gideon Seyetik, using an Andorian boiler, was cooked at exactly 500 kelvin. (DS9: "Second Sight")
500 K equals 226.85 °C.
- The surface of a Y-class planet was categorized by a surface temperature that exceeds 500 kelvin, with an extremely turbulent, toxic atmosphere with thermionic radiation. (VOY: "Demon")
- The shuttlecraft Captain Kathryn Janeway wanted to use in her Omega Directive mission was to be modified to withstand extreme thermal stress of at least 12,000 Kelvin. (VOY: "The Omega Directive")
- While conducting an experiment on the star Praxillus, in order to revitalize the Kaelon sun, the results of their initial experiment yielded 1700 percent rise in gamma radiation levels, while the star's density was measured at 1100 grams per cubic centimeter, with a temperature approaching 60,000 degrees kelvin. (TNG: "Half a Life")
- The external temperature of a Federation shuttlecraft, utilizing metaphasic shielding, could tolerate radiation levels approaching 10,000 rads and temperatures of 1.9 million kelvin, while maintaining an internal cabin temperature of 21 °C. (TNG: "Suspicions")
- In order to stabilize the core of a star, the temperature had to reach 220 million kelvin. The core density of a star became unstable at 260 million kelvin. (TNG: "Half a Life")
Appendices[]
Background information[]
Technically, the measurement for kelvin is not preceded by the qualifier "degree"; however, the term "degrees kelvin" has been used at various times throughout Star Trek. Geordi La Forge made several references to this term in both "The Child" and "Half a Life" rather than (correctly) simply stating "kelvin". Data, also in "Half a Life", Gideon Seyetik in "Second Sight", Chakotay and Harry Kim in "Alter Ego", the computer voice in "Concerning Flight", Tom Paris in "Demon", and Tuvok in "The Haunting of Deck Twelve" were also guilty of adding the additional qualifier.