Constant (Boltzmann)

L.E. Boltzmann
L.E. Boltzmann
The unit kelvin (K) is defined by fixing Boltzmann's constant kB to be 1.380,649×10-23 J·K-1 (= kg·m2·s-2·K-1), where second, meter and kilogram are defined in terms of atomic clock, speed of light and Planck's constant.

Boltzmann's constant is named after the Austrian physicist Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann (1844 - 1906).

History

The German physicist Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck (1858 - 1947) introduced the constant kB and gave the value 1.346×10-23 J·K-1, about 2.5% lower than the current value.

Related concepts

  • base units
  • constant (atomic clock)
  • constant (Avogadro)
  • constant (electron charge)
  • constant (Planck)
  • constant (speed of light)
  • kelvin
  • temperature

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