The Celsius temperature is a/an—

The Celsius scale is classified as a relative temperature scale because it is constructed around an arbitrary reference point rather than absolute zero. Specifically, the Celsius scale uses the freezing point of water (0°C) and the boiling point of water (100°C) at standard atmospheric pressure as its primary reference markers [3]. In contrast, an absolute temperature scale, such as the Kelvin scale, begins at absolute zero (0 K), the theoretical point where all molecular motion ceases [2]. Because the Celsius scale allows for negative values and is based on the physical properties of a specific substance (water) under certain conditions, it is defined by its relation to these benchmarks. While the size of a degree Celsius is identical to a kelvin, the starting points differ, making Celsius relative and Kelvin absolute [3].

Sources

1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Understanding the Weather > LET'S REMEMBER > p. 31
2. [3] https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/kelvin-introduction
3. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/temperature-scale