Temperature Scales

Fahrenheit Scale                                                                                 Return to Meteorology Index

Fahrenheit was created by physicist G. Daniel Fahrenheit during the 1700's. He based the number 32 for freezing point of water and 212 for the boiling point. The unit "F" marks the measurements for Fahrenheit. There are exactly 180 degrees between boiling and the freezing point of water.

Celsius Scale

Celsius Scale uses zero as the freezing point of water and one hundred as the boiling point of water. There are one hundred degrees between freezing and boiling point of water. The unit "C" denotes the measurements for Celsius.

Kelvin Scale

Kelvin Scale was created by Lord Kelvin. The Kelvin Scale is most widely used scale by scientist, since zero represents absolute zero and there are no negative numbers in the scale.

Absolute Zero is the coldest temperature possible and is approximately -459.6 F. There is no motion within the atom, therefore no thermal energy can be produce.

Temperature Conversions

Fahrenheit to Celsius

C = 5/9 (F - 32)

Celsius to Fahrenheit

F = 9/5 C + 32

Celsius to Kelvin

K = C + 273

Fahrenheit to Kelvin

1. First find Celsius using C = 5/9 (F - 32)

2. Take Celsius and use the formula K = C + 273 to find Kelvin