British Thermal Units, BTUs, are the English system units for heat quantity. The unit is commonly used in the heating and air-conditioning industry to indicate the size of heating or cooling units. One BTU is equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water at its maximum density (which occurs at a temperature of 39.1 oF) by 1 degree Fahrenheit. One BTU is approximately equivalent to the following: 251.9 calories 778.26 foot-pounds 1055 joules 107.5 kilogram-meters 0.0002928 kilowatt-hours Burning a pound (0.454 kilogram) of coal should yield 14,000 to 15,000 BTU; a pound of gasoline or other fuel oil, approximately 19,000 BTU. Temperature Scale Conversions: Converting from Celsius to Kelvin: Example: convert 37 oC to Kelvin. C + 273 = K 37 + 273 = 310 K Check out the picture to verify this answer. To convert from Kelvin to Celsius subtract 273. Converting from Celsius to Fahrenheit: Example: convert 37 oC to Fahrenheit. 9/5 C + 32 = F (9/5 X 37) + 32 = 98.6 oF. 9/5 = 1.8, meaning that 1 degree on the Celsius scale = 1.8 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. Look at scales above: a five degree interval on the Celsius scale equals a nine degree interval on the Fahrenheit scale. Remember, 37 oC equals 98.6 oF, because it is the body temperature. Converting from Fahrenheit to Celsius: (F - 32) / 9/5 (98.6 - 32) / 9/5 = 37 oC. First subtract 32, then divide by 1.8.