Measuring Temperature

By: Jessa Dione Ramirez

Temperature is a measure of the hotness or coldness of something. The two most commonly used temperature scales are the Fahrenheit and the Celsius.

The Fahrenheit scale was invented in the early 1700s by Gabriel D. Fahrenheit, a German physicist. A salt-water solution freezed at 0 F at sea level. Pure water freezes at 32 F and boils at 212 F. The normal temperature for the human body is 98.6 F.

The Celsius scale was developed in 1742 by Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer. Pure water freezes at 0 C and boils at 100 C. The Celsius scale divides the interval between this two points into 100 equal parts.

Here is an example of the Fahrenheit and Celsius Scales.

Fahrenheit and Celsius Scale

We are familiar with the Celsius thermometer as the centigrade thermometer. Remember that centi- means 1/100 or 0.01. In the Celsius thermometer, there are 100 intervals between 0 centigrade and 100 centigrade. Since the scale that Celsius developed was so convenient to use, the centigrade thermometer was adopted by scientists. All the countries using the metric system have also adopted this thermometer which was formerly known as the centigrade thermometer. It is now officially known as the celsius thermometer in honour of the man who developed the scale. Each unit in the Celsius thermometer is called a degree Celsius (C).

The following formulas will help us convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice versa:
C temperature in C F temperature in F

Fahrenheit to Celsius

C = 5/9 (F 32)

Celsius to Fahrenheit F = 9/5 (C 32)

Let us use the first formula to find the temperature on the Celsius thermometer that is equivalent to 32F. We expect our answer to be 0C. Using the formula: C = 5/9 (F 32) = 5/9 (32 32)

= 5/9 (0) = 0
Therefore, 32F = 0C.

Let us try another example using the second formula. Suppose the given temperature is 100C and we want to find its equivalent temperature on the Fahrenheit thermometer.
F = 9/5 C + 32 = 9/5 (100) + 32 = 180 + 32 = 212 Therefore, 100C = 212F.

Example: Convert each to the indicated unit. a. 80C to F b. 20C to F c. 98.6F to C

Solution:
a.

Celsius to Fahrenheit F = 9/5 (C + 32)

= 9/5 (80) + 32
= 144 + 32 F = 176 Thus, 80C = 176F.

Replace C
with 10.

Solution: b. Celsius to Fahrenheit F = 9/5 (C + 32)

= 9/5 (20) + 32
= 36 + 32 F = 68 Thus, 20C = 68F.

Substitute
65 for C.

Solution: c. Fahrenheit to Celsius C = 5/9 (F 32)

= 5/9 (98.6 32)

= 5/9 (66.6) C = 37 Thus, 98.6F = 37C.

Substitute
98.6 for F.

QUIZ TIME !!!

Answer in Quiz notebook. I. Convert each to Fahrenheit. 1. 10C 3. -40C 5. 40C 2. -15C 4. -35C 6. 25C II. Convert each to Celsius. 1. 41F 3. 14F 5. -4F 2. -22F 4. 167F 6. 86F III. Which temperature is warmer? 1. 92C or 180F 2. 20C or 80F 3. 32C or 190F

THE END!!!!!