Lesson 4:

Temperature

English vs. Metric Units

Which is warmer?
A. 10 degrees F or 0 degrees Celsius
B. 100 degrees F or 100 degrees Celsius
C. 212 degrees F or 100 degrees Celsius

English vs. Metric Units

The U.S. is the only nation that
continues to use Fahrenheit
temperatures for shelter-level
(surface) weather observations.
However, as of July 1996 all surface
temperature observations in National
Weather Service reports are now
transmitted in degrees Celsius.

English vs. Metric Units

Three temperature scales are in
common use in science and
industry. Two of those scales are
SI metric:
The degree Celsius (C) scale
The kelvin (K) temperature scale
One is non-metric:
The degree Fahrenheit (F) temperature
scale

*Our focus will be on the Celsius

scale

English vs. Metric Units

Some baseline temperatures in
the three temperature scales:
temperatur
e

kelvin

degree
Celsius

degree
Fahrenheit

symbol

boiling
point of
water

373.15

100.

212.

melting
point of ice

273.15

0.

32.

absolute
zero

0.

-273.15

-459.67

English vs. Metric Units

Common temperature
comparisons:
degree
temperature
degree Celsius

Fahrenheit

symbol

boiling point of
water

100.

212.

average human
body
temperature

37.

98.6

average room
temperature

20. to 25.

68. to 77.

melting point
of ice

0.

32.

English vs. Metric Units

A degree Celsius memory device:
There are several memory aids that can be used to
help understand the degree Celsius temperature
scale. One such mnemonic is:

When it's zero it's freezing,

when it's 10 it's not,
when it's 20 it's warm,
when it's 30 it's hot!

English vs. Metric Units

Or, another one to help you
remember:

Thirty is hot
Twenty is nice
Ten is cool
Zero is ice

Temperature conversions between

Fahrenheit and Celsius:
degree Fahrenheit / degree Celsius
conversions (exact):
degree F = degree C x 1.8 + 32.
degree C = (degree F - 32.) / 1.8
*note: in case you have done this using 9/5 and 5/9
instead of 1.8they are equivalent.