Celsius vs. Fahrenheit scale- 10 Differences with Examples

Celsius Scale Definition

Celsius scale, or centigrade scale, is a temperature scale that is based on the freezing point of water at 0°C and the boiling point of water at 100°C.

• The scale was introduced by and also named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in 1742 A.D. This scale uses the symbol °C.
• Initially, the Celsius scale used 0°C for the boiling point of water and 100°C for the melting point of ice, but the scale was later reinverted in the form that is used today.
• In this scale, the lower fixed point is considered 0°C, and the upper fixed point is considered 100°C.
• The region between these two temperatures is divided into 100 equal parts so that each part equals to one degree Celsius (1°C).
• Thus, in the inverted form of the Celsius scale, the freezing point of water is 0°C, and the boiling point of water is 100°C.
• However, a modern Celsius scale has been adopted that is based on the triple point of Vienna Standard Mean ocean water and has improved with the concept of absolute zero.
• According to this, the modern concept of the Celsius scale is not based on the freezing point and boiling point of water, but on the triple point of water.
• After May 2019, the absolute zero, the lowest temperature possible is denoted by 0K or -273.15°C. Before that, however, the temperature of the triple point of water was defined exactly at 273.16 K or 0.01 °C.
• The average human body temperature is 37°C on the Celsius scale.
• The formula for the conversion of Celsius scale into the Fahrenheit scale is given by:

°F = (⁹/₅ × °C) + 32

• Celsius scale is commonly used in areas that use metric system units and thus is used for all scientific purposes.

Fahrenheit Scale Definition

Fahrenheit scale is a temperature scale that is based on the freezing point of water at 32°F and the boiling point of water at 212°F.

• The scale was introduced by and also named after the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1720 A.D. This scale uses the symbol °F.
• The lowest defining point in the Fahrenheit scale is the temperature of a solution of brine with an equal amount of ice, water, and salt (ammonium chloride).
• The temperature of the average human body was first established at 96°F, which was later adjusted to 98.6°F.
• In this scale, the lower fixed point is considered 32°F, and the upper fixed point is considered 212°F.
• The region between these two temperatures is divided into 180 equal parts so that each part equals to one Fahrenheit degree (1°F).
• Thus, the freezing point of water is 32°F, and the boiling point of water is 212°F on the Fahrenheit scale.
• The formula for the conversion of degree Fahrenheit to degree Celsius is given by:

°C = (°F – 32) × ⁵/₉

• The absolute zero value in the Fahrenheit scale is -459.67° F.
• Fahrenheit scale is the first standardized temperature scale to be used in the world. It was prevalent in most English-speaking nations until the 1960s.
• The Celsius scale then replaced this scale after 1960 in most countries except the United States.

Celsius Scale vs. Fahrenheit Scale

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Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature table from -40°C to 100°C (-40°F to 212°F)

References and Sources

• 3% – https://www.lenntech.com/calculators/temperature/temperature.htm
• 3% – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celsius
• 3% – https://biodifferences.com/difference-between-celsius-and-fahrenheit.html
• 2% – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_of_temperature
• 2% – http://www.jspayne.com/php/SummaryGet.php?FindGo=Fahrenheit
• 1% – https://www.nextgurukul.in/wiki/concept/icse/class-7/physics/heat/temperature-and-its-measurement/3959265
• 1% – https://www.britannica.com/technology/Celsius-temperature-scale
• 1% – https://www.britannica.com/science/Fahrenheit-temperature-scale
• 1% – https://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_used_in_the_U.S_Celsius_or_Fahrenheit
• 1% – https://www.answers.com/Q/On_which_temperature_scale_is_100_degrees_the_boiling_point_of_water
• 1% – https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-centigrade-definition-conversion.html
• 1% – https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/heat/274809
• 1% – https://didyouknow.org/celsius/
• 1% – http://www.saburchill.com/physics/chapters/0097.html
• 1% – http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/glossary/temperature_scale.html
• <1% – https://www.scribd.com/document/381249252/general-science-pdf
• <1% – https://hypertextbook.com/facts/1997/LenaWong.shtml