TEMPERATURE
Temperature can be given in degrees Kelvin (K), Celsius (C), Fahrenheit (F) or
Rankine (R). Both the Kelvin an Celsius scales have the same size degree but the
definition of their zero-points is different. For Celsius the zero-point is the temperature
of melting ice, for Kelvin it is the lowest temperature that theoretically can exist
within the universe, absolute zero. The difference in temperature between these two
reference values is 273 degrees Celsius so 0 degrees Kelvin corresponds with minus
273 degrees Celsius while 1000 degrees Celsius corresponds with 1273 degrees
Kelvin. 100 degrees Celsius is defined as the temperature of boiling water.
The zero-point of the Fahrenheit scale is not clearly defined but
it is somewhere around the freezing point of a solution of equal
parts of water and salt, about minus17 degrees Celsius.
Rankine has the same scale size as Fahrenheit but, as with
Kelvin, its zero point is absolute zero, minus 460 degrees
Fahrenheit.
96 degrees Fahrenheit is an early (somewhat too low)
estimation of the temperature of the human body, about 36
degrees Celsius, so 96 scale units Fahrenheit roughly
corresponds with 36 + 17 = 53 scale units Celsius and the
defined conversion factor is 9 to 5. Since 32 degrees
Fahrenheit corresponds with 0 degrees Celsius, a temperature
F in Fahrenheit can be converted to a temperature C in Celsius
with the formula C = (F - 32) * (5/9).
Fahrenheit and Rankine are used in the United States, its
territories and some associated states. Celsius and Kelvin are
used in the rest of the world.
