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The Fahrenheit scale measures temperature. It is based on a scale proposed in 1724 by physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736). The unit of this scale is the degree Fahrenheit (°F). On this scale, water’s freezing point is defined to be 32 degrees, while water’s boiling point is defined to be 212 degrees.
Temperature can be thought of as the degree of agitation of the atoms in a body with all motion stopping at a point designated as absolute zero. Although people have employed multiple temperature scales throughout history, today there remain only four basic scales. These are the Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin , and Rankine scales.
Use the scale shown above to convert between temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius. A more exact formula is given for those of you with a need for greater precision. A conversion table is provided for typical weather temperature range.
The two most common temperature scales are the Fahrenheit and Celsius (Centigrade) scales. Two other scales, the Rankin and Kelvin are known as the absolute scales because at their zero points all molecular activity ceases. This point is known as absolute zero.
The Celsius scale is convenient for measuring everyday temperatures. The scale is based on the properties of water, with 0°C corresponding to the freezing point of water, and 100°C corresponding to its boiling point (at standard atmospheric pressure, at least). In scientific work temperatures are usually measured in Celsius, or in Kelvin.
To convert a delta temperature from degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius, the formula is {ΔT} °F = 9 / 5 {ΔT} °C. To convert a delta temperature from degrees Celsius to kelvin, it is 1:1 ({Δ T } °C = {Δ T } K ).
In the Fahrenheit scale, the boiling point of water is 2128F and the freeing point of water is 328F. The Kelvin scale was developed by William Thompson, Lord Kelvin (1824–1907).
