What does Kelvin measure?

Kelvin is a scale of measurement used to quantify temperature, based on the concept of absolute zero. Absolute zero is the theoretical point at which all molecular motion ceases, and it is defined as 0 Kelvin. The Kelvin scale is an important temperature scale in science because it is an absolute scale; this means it starts from a point where all thermal energy is minimal.

In the Kelvin scale, temperatures are directly related to the kinetic energy of the molecules. For example, room temperature is approximately 293 K, which indicates the thermal energy present in the environment. Other temperature scales, like Celsius and Fahrenheit, are relative and anchored to human perception of temperature. Because Kelvin uses absolute zero as its starting point, it is a universally applicable scale in scientific disciplines, making it the preferred temperature scale in fields such as physics and chemistry.

The other choices provided do not align with the Kelvin scale's purpose. Speed of sound relates to the propagation of sound waves and is measured in meters per second. Gravity is a force that can be measured in terms of acceleration, defined by units such as meters per second squared. Distance in space is measured in units such as kilometers or light-years. Therefore, the most accurate statement about what Kelvin measures is that it quantifies