Difference between revisions of "Fahrenheit"
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| − | Fahrenheit is the name of the [[Temperature|temperature]] scale used in [[United States of America]] for ordinary purposes. It was used in most [[English]]-speaking countries until the 1960s. Most other countries use [[Celsius]], which is part of the ''International System of Units'' (the "metric system"). | + | Fahrenheit is the name of the [[Temperature|temperature]] scale used in [[United States of America]] for ordinary purposes. It was used in most [[English]]-speaking countries until the 1960s. Most other countries use [[Celsius]] (which was known as Centigrade until 1960), which is part of the ''International System of Units'' (the "metric system"). |
The Fahrenheit temperature scale was invented by [[Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit]] in 1724. He decided that the zero point should be the temperature of a mix of ammonium chloride and ice, because this was the very coldest temperature he could achieve in his laboratory. He decided to set 100 at the temperature of the human body. (Either he made his measurement inaccurately, or he was running a very slight fever at the time). On this scale, it turns out that water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. | The Fahrenheit temperature scale was invented by [[Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit]] in 1724. He decided that the zero point should be the temperature of a mix of ammonium chloride and ice, because this was the very coldest temperature he could achieve in his laboratory. He decided to set 100 at the temperature of the human body. (Either he made his measurement inaccurately, or he was running a very slight fever at the time). On this scale, it turns out that water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. | ||
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| + | To convert a temperature expressed in Celsius to Fahrenheit, subtract 32 and multiply the result by 5/9. | ||
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| + | To convert a temperature in Fahrenheit to Celsius, multiply by 9/5 and add 32. | ||
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| + | The temperature -40 is the same in both scales. | ||
[[Ray Bradbury]] wrote a book called ''[[Fahrenheit 451]]'' about burning books in the future. According to Bradbury's research (which involved calling a local fire station on the telephone), 451°F is the temperature at which book paper burns. | [[Ray Bradbury]] wrote a book called ''[[Fahrenheit 451]]'' about burning books in the future. According to Bradbury's research (which involved calling a local fire station on the telephone), 451°F is the temperature at which book paper burns. | ||
[[Category:Units of temperature]] | [[Category:Units of temperature]] | ||
Revision as of 18:11, May 17, 2007
Fahrenheit is the name of the temperature scale used in United States of America for ordinary purposes. It was used in most English-speaking countries until the 1960s. Most other countries use Celsius (which was known as Centigrade until 1960), which is part of the International System of Units (the "metric system").
The Fahrenheit temperature scale was invented by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724. He decided that the zero point should be the temperature of a mix of ammonium chloride and ice, because this was the very coldest temperature he could achieve in his laboratory. He decided to set 100 at the temperature of the human body. (Either he made his measurement inaccurately, or he was running a very slight fever at the time). On this scale, it turns out that water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
To convert a temperature expressed in Celsius to Fahrenheit, subtract 32 and multiply the result by 5/9.
To convert a temperature in Fahrenheit to Celsius, multiply by 9/5 and add 32.
The temperature -40 is the same in both scales.
Ray Bradbury wrote a book called Fahrenheit 451 about burning books in the future. According to Bradbury's research (which involved calling a local fire station on the telephone), 451°F is the temperature at which book paper burns.
