Celsius vs. Fahrenheit Scale: 10 Differences with Examples

Celsius Scale Definition

Celsius scale, or centigrade scale, is a temperature scale that is based on the freezing point of water at 0°C and the boiling point of water at 100°C.

• The scale was introduced by and also named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in 1742 A.D. This scale uses the symbol °C.
• Initially, the Celsius scale used 0°C for the boiling point of water and 100°C for the melting point of ice, but the scale was later reinverted in the form that is used today.
• In this scale, the lower fixed point is considered 0°C, and the upper fixed point is considered 100°C.
• The region between these two temperatures is divided into 100 equal parts so that each part equals to one degree Celsius (1°C).
• Thus, in the inverted form of the Celsius scale, the freezing point of water is 0°C, and the boiling point of water is 100°C.
• However, a modern Celsius scale has been adopted that is based on the triple point of Vienna Standard Mean ocean water and has improved with the concept of absolute zero.
• According to this, the modern concept of the Celsius scale is not based on the freezing point and boiling point of water, but on the triple point of water.
• After May 2019, the absolute zero, the lowest temperature possible is denoted by 0K or -273.15°C. Before that, however, the temperature of the triple point of water was defined exactly at 273.16 K or 0.01 °C.
• The average human body temperature is 37°C on the Celsius scale.
• The formula for the conversion of Celsius scale into the Fahrenheit scale is given by:

°F = (⁹/₅ × °C) + 32

• Celsius scale is commonly used in areas that use metric system units and thus is used for all scientific purposes.

Fahrenheit Scale Definition

Fahrenheit scale is a temperature scale that is based on the freezing point of water at 32°F and the boiling point of water at 212°F.

• The scale was introduced by and also named after the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1720 A.D. This scale uses the symbol °F.
• The lowest defining point in the Fahrenheit scale is the temperature of a solution of brine with an equal amount of ice, water, and salt (ammonium chloride).
• The temperature of the average human body was first established at 96°F, which was later adjusted to 98.6°F.
• In this scale, the lower fixed point is considered 32°F, and the upper fixed point is considered 212°F.
• The region between these two temperatures is divided into 180 equal parts so that each part equals to one Fahrenheit degree (1°F).
• Thus, the freezing point of water is 32°F, and the boiling point of water is 212°F on the Fahrenheit scale.
• The formula for the conversion of degree Fahrenheit to degree Celsius is given by:

°C = (°F – 32) × ⁵/₉

• The absolute zero value in the Fahrenheit scale is -459.67° F.
• Fahrenheit scale is the first standardized temperature scale to be used in the world. It was prevalent in most English-speaking nations until the 1960s.
• The Celsius scale then replaced this scale after 1960 in most countries except the United States.

Celsius Scale vs. Fahrenheit Scale Differences

Online temperature converter calculator

Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter

Enter a temperature in Celsius:

Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter

Enter a temperature in Fahrenheit:

Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature table from -40°C to 100°C (-40°F to 212°F)

References and Sources

• 3% – https://www.lenntech.com/calculators/temperature/temperature.htm
• 3% – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celsius
• 3% – https://biodifferences.com/difference-between-celsius-and-fahrenheit.html
• 2% – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_of_temperature
• 2% – http://www.jspayne.com/php/SummaryGet.php?FindGo=Fahrenheit
• 1% – https://www.nextgurukul.in/wiki/concept/icse/class-7/physics/heat/temperature-and-its-measurement/3959265
• 1% – https://www.britannica.com/technology/Celsius-temperature-scale
• 1% – https://www.britannica.com/science/Fahrenheit-temperature-scale
• 1% – https://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_used_in_the_U.S_Celsius_or_Fahrenheit
• 1% – https://www.answers.com/Q/On_which_temperature_scale_is_100_degrees_the_boiling_point_of_water
• 1% – https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-centigrade-definition-conversion.html
• 1% – https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/heat/274809
• 1% – https://didyouknow.org/celsius/
• 1% – http://www.saburchill.com/physics/chapters/0097.html
• 1% – http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/glossary/temperature_scale.html
• <1% – https://www.scribd.com/document/381249252/general-science-pdf
• <1% – https://hypertextbook.com/facts/1997/LenaWong.shtml