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Line 1: − Page Corrected by Anon. Anon is legion. Anon does not forgive. Anon does not forget+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Reverted edits by WeAreLegion (Talk) to last version by Jallen
A convenient operational definition of '''temperature''' is that it is a measure of the average translational kinetic energy associated with the disordered microscopic motion of atoms and molecules.<ref> http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/temper.html </ref>
Temperature is expressed in degrees. There are two units of temperature in common use - [[Celsius degree|Celsius]] (°C) and [[Fahrenheit degree|Fahrenheit]] (°F). Both make reference to the freezing and boiling points of pure water at normal atmospheric pressure.
Celsius (sometimes known as centigrade in the past) sets the freezing point at 0 degrees (0 °C) and the boiling point at 100 degrees (100 °C).<br>
Fahrenheit sets the freezing point at 32 degrees (32 °F) and the boiling point at 212 degrees (212 °F).<br>
Conversion of Fahrenheit to Celsius: °C = ( °F - 32 ) x 5 ÷ 9<br>
Conversion of Celsius to Fahrenheit: °F = ( °C x 9 ÷ 5 ) + 32
Universally Celsius is the predominant system but Fahrenheit still holds sway in the USA.
An alternative scale, the [[Kelvin]] scale (after the famous Irish-born physicist), is used in scientific and engineering circles. It is a [[thermodynamic (absolute) temperature]] scale: it sets 0 K at the '''absolute zero''': the coldest possible temperature in the universe, where an object has no thermal energy. The unit of the Kelvin scale (K) is equal to the unit of the Celsius scale (°C). Thus the freezing point of water at normal atmospheric pressure occurs at 273.15 K.
The Kelvin is one of the fundamental seven [[SI]] units. Today the [[Kelvin]] scale is defined by two points: the absolute zero and the [[triple point]] of water (273.16 K). No degree symbol (°) is used with the Kelvin symbol (K).
In US engineering fields another scale, the [[Rankine]] scale, is still used. As the Kelvin it is a thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale, but one Rankine unit (°R) equals one Fahrenheit unit (°F). Thus, the freezing point of water at normal atmospheric pressure occurs at 459.67 °R.
==References==
<references/>
[[category:physics]]
[[Category:Meteorology]]