Question

Which temperature is hottest?
A. $17^\circ {\rm{C}}$
B. $58^\circ {\rm{F}}$
C. $290\;{\rm{K}}$
D. $16^\circ {\rm{C}}$

Answer 1

Hint: We know that temperature is the degree of hotness of an object. There are three scales of measuring temperature, Celsius, Kelvin and Fahrenheit.

Complete step-by-step answer:
To identify which temperature is highest, we have to convert every temperature to one scale of measurement, that is, Celsius or Kelvin or Fahrenheit. Let’s convert all the units to Kelvin temperature.
Option A is $17^\circ {\rm{C}}$. To convert Celsius temperature to Kelvin, we have to add 273.5 to the Celsius measurement.
$\begin{array}{c}17^\circ {\rm{C = 17 + 273}}{\rm{.5}}\\{\rm{ = 290}}{\rm{.5}}\;{\rm{K}}\end{array}$
So, the Kelvin measurement of $17^\circ {\rm{C}}$is 290.5 K.
Option B is $58^\circ {\rm{F}}$. The formula provided below should be used to convert to kelvin from fahrenheit.
${\rm{K}} = \left( {{\rm{F}} - 32} \right) \times \dfrac{5}{9} + 273.15$
$\begin{array}{c}58^\circ {\rm{F}} = \left( {58 - 32} \right) \times \dfrac{5}{9} + 273.15\\ = 26 \times \dfrac{5}{9} + 273.15\\ = 14.44 + 273.15\\ = 287.59\;{\rm{K}}\end{array}$
So, the Kelvin scale measurement of $58^\circ {\rm{F}}$is 287.59 K
Option C is 290 K. It already is Kelvin So, no need to convert.
Option D is $16^\circ {\rm{C}}$. To convert Celsius temperature to Kelvin, we have to add 273.5 to the Celsius measurement.
$\begin{array}{c}16^\circ {\rm{C = 16 + 273}}{\rm{.5}}\\{\rm{ = 289}}{\rm{.5}}\;{\rm{K}}\end{array}$

So, the Kelvin scale measurement of $16^\circ {\rm{C}}$ is 289.5 K.

Kelvin scale measurement of $17^\circ {\rm{C}}$ is 290.5 K
Kelvin scale measurement of $58^\circ {\rm{F}}$ is 287.59 K
Kelvin scale measurement of $16^\circ {\rm{C}}$ is 289.5 K
The other measurement provided in kelvin is 290 K
So, From all the Kelvin scale measurements, the Kelvin scale measurement of $17^\circ {\rm{C}}$ is highest, that is, 290.5 K. So, $17^\circ {\rm{C}}$ is the hottest temperature.

Hence, option A is correct.

Note: We have used two formulas for conversion of Celsius to Kelvin and Fahrenheit to Kelvin.
1) To convert Celsius to Kelvin, we have to add 273.15 to Celsius scale measurement.
${\rm{K}} = ^\circ {\rm{C}} + 273.15$
 2) To convert Fahrenheit to Kelvin, we have to use the below formula.
${\rm{K}} = \left( {{\rm{F}} - 32} \right) \times \dfrac{5}{9} + 273.15$