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Different Temperature Scales

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Fig 1: Identifying Temperature Scales
GLL127977Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

The temperature scales have different starting points and are named after their inventors.

Celsius and Fahrenheit 

The scales have a zero point and are graded in both plus and minus degrees.

The thermometer reading is a measurement of the kinetic energy of the molecules (= the heat).

Because there is a thermometer reading also at minus grades, the molecules cannot have already stopped moving (heat be zero) at 0°

In terms of pure physics, it is also incorrect to talk about warm and cold grades. Put simply, different temperatures correspond to different levels of heat.

Celsius took water as a starting point when he made his scale.

The boiling point of water was set at 100° and the freezing point at 0° on his scale.

Fahrenheit cut his finger and used both his blood temperature and a refrigerated mixture of ice and salt as his starting points.

The temperature of his blood was set at 100° and the frozen mixture's temperature was set at 0° on his scale.

Conversion between Celsius and Fahrenheit:

C = ((F-32) x 5) / 9

F = (C x 9) / 5 + 32

Kelvin 

This scale is based on the kinetic energy of the molecules.

0° K = absolute zero = the molecules have stopped moving completely.