Fahrenheit is a temperature scale that measures the degree of heat or cold. It is commonly used in the United States and a few other countries, with the freezing point of water at 32°F and the boiling point at 212°F under standard atmospheric pressure.
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The Fahrenheit scale was developed in 1724 by German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, who initially set the freezing point of a brine solution as 0°F and the average human body temperature as 96°F.
The Fahrenheit scale is based on the properties of a particular substance, brine, rather than the properties of water, which is the basis for the Celsius and Kelvin scales.
The Fahrenheit scale is related to the Celsius scale by the formula: $°F = (9/5)°C + 32$, which allows for easy conversion between the two scales.
The Fahrenheit scale is commonly used in the United States for everyday temperature measurements, while the Celsius scale is more widely used in scientific and international contexts.
The Fahrenheit scale has a smaller degree interval than the Celsius scale, with each Celsius degree equivalent to 1.8 Fahrenheit degrees.
Review Questions
Explain how the Fahrenheit temperature scale is defined and how it differs from the Celsius scale.
The Fahrenheit temperature scale is defined such that the freezing point of water is 32°F and the boiling point of water is 212°F under standard atmospheric pressure. This differs from the Celsius scale, where the freezing and boiling points of water are 0°C and 100°C, respectively. The Fahrenheit scale has a smaller degree interval, with each Celsius degree equivalent to 1.8 Fahrenheit degrees. The Fahrenheit scale is based on the properties of a particular substance, brine, rather than the properties of water, which is the basis for the Celsius and Kelvin scales.
Describe the relationship between the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales and explain how to convert between them.
The Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales are related by the formula: $°F = (9/5)°C + 32$. This allows for easy conversion between the two scales. For example, to convert 20°C to Fahrenheit, you would use the formula: $°F = (9/5)°C + 32 = (9/5)(20) + 32 = 68°F$. Conversely, to convert 75°F to Celsius, you would use the formula: $°C = (5/9)(°F - 32) = (5/9)(75 - 32) = 23.89°C$. Understanding this relationship and the ability to convert between the two scales is important for working with temperature measurements in different contexts.
Analyze the historical development and significance of the Fahrenheit temperature scale, particularly in the context of temperature measurement and its use in the United States.
The Fahrenheit temperature scale was developed in 1724 by German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, who initially set the freezing point of a brine solution as 0°F and the average human body temperature as 96°F. This scale was based on the properties of a particular substance, brine, rather than the properties of water, which is the basis for the Celsius and Kelvin scales. The Fahrenheit scale is commonly used in the United States for everyday temperature measurements, while the Celsius scale is more widely used in scientific and international contexts. The historical significance of the Fahrenheit scale lies in its role in the development of temperature measurement and its continued use in the United States, which sets it apart from the more globally adopted Celsius scale. Understanding the Fahrenheit scale and its relationship to the Celsius scale is important for navigating temperature measurements in various contexts, particularly when working with temperature data from different sources or regions.
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles (atoms or molecules) in a substance, and it determines the direction of heat transfer.
Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature, where the particles have the least possible kinetic energy, and it is equivalent to -459.67°F or -273.15°C.