The Temperature Scales on Thermometers: How are they related?

Kelvin
Celsius
Fahrenheit
Rankine

Click on the tabs to navigate!

Temperature Scales 340 K 67 o
C 152.6 o
F

225 kelvins 500 500 250 460 Generate the data by moving the slider.
480 240 440
230 Add at least five points to this chart.
460 420
340 440
220
400 Type them in.
210
420 200
380 Kelvin Celsius Fahrenheit
340 Adjust the slider 400 190 360
180 340
or type a value 380
170
360 320
340 in the yellow cell. 160 300
340
150
280
320 140
How do the degree 300 130
260
240
sizes compare? 280 120
110 220
260
100 200
240
For 1 kelvin, how 90 180
220 80
much does the 160
200 70
140
Celsius change? 180 60
120
answer: 160
50
100
40
140 80
30
120
For 1 kelvin, how 20 60
100 10 40
much does the 0 After the points have been placed
80 20
Fahrenheit change? 60
-10
0
in the chart, click on the conversions
-20
answer: 40 -20 tab to view graphs and the equations.
-30
20 -40 -40
0 -50 -60

Kelvin Celsius Fahrenheit

(centigrade)
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Conversion Factors Data must be added to the yellow cells on the thermometer tab!

Celsius as a function of Kelvin Fahrenheit as a function of Celsius

f(x) = 0 f(x) = 0
250 440
390
200
340

150 290
240
Celsius 100 Fahrenheit 190
140
50
90

0 40
225 275 325 375 425 475 -10
-50 0 50 100 150 200 250
-50 -60
Kelvin Celsius

Write the equations in terms of the temperature variables (not x and y).
What is the equation to What is the equation to
convert K to oC? convert oC to oF?
What is the oC value
What is the equation to for absolute zero, 0 K? What is the equation to
convert C to K?
o
convert oF to oC?

Sinex 2006

ONLY AFTER YOU0THINK ABOUT THIS, do you want to see the answers?
ONLY AFTER YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, do you want to see the answers?
The Inverse Functions or Reverse Conversions Data must be added to the yellow cells on the thermometer tab!

Kelvin-Celsius y = x line Celsius-Fahrenheit

f(x) = 0 500 f(x) = 0 500

-100 -250
450 0 -250 450
100 -250
400 400
200 -250
350 300 -250 350
400 -250
300 300
500 -250
250 250

200 200
0
150 150

100 100

50 50

0 0
-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
-50 -50

-100 -100

An inverse function is the function created by reflection about the y = x line and
for your coordinates (a,b) will become (b,a).
In simple terms, what ever the function does to "a", the inverse function undoes it and returns the original value!
Sinex 2006
Deriving the Relationship of the Rankine Temperature Scale

Based on the data below derive the relationship of the Rankine

temperature to the Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit temperature scales.

Kelvin Rankine Celsius Fahrenheit

100 180
150 270
200 360
250 450
300 540
350 630
400 720
450 810
500 900

Need help with graphing, regression, and setting

up the computations or formulas in cells- click here

Sinex 2006
Inventing Your Own Temperature Scale

To invent your scale you must pick two reference point temperatures: Celsius
100
boiling point of water: Reaumur

freezing point of water:

0

Here is your conversion equation:

Your scale (oY) = 0 o

C + 0 What does the slope of the
conversion equation mean?
converting to your scale: o
C o
Y
What does the intercept of
commom Celsius temperatures: the conversion equation mean?
room temperature 21 oC
human body 37 oC

Sinex 2007