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Relation Between Fahrenheit and Celsius

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Learn Relationship Between Fahrenheit and Celsius


Fahrenheit and Celsius are the two scales widely used for measuring temperature. The temperature in the Fahrenheit scale is expressed or written in degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature in the Celsius scale is expressed or written in degree Celsius. The relationship between Fahrenheit and Celsius is directly proportional. Besides, both Fahrenheit and Celsius have a different values for the freezing point of water, and both have a different unit difference between each scale.


What are the Units of Fahrenheit and Celsius?

For differentiating the temperature of one scale from another, the units of temperature scale prove to be extremely beneficial. °C denotes the temperature in the Celsius scale, and °F denotes the temperature in the Fahrenheit scale.

 

What is the Relationship Between C and F?

The relation between C and F shows that both Celsius and Fahrenheit are directly proportional to each other. To be specific, it implies that as the temperature in the Celsius scale increases, the temperature in the Fahrenheit scale also increases. Additionally, when the temperature in the Celsius scale decreases, the temperature in the Fahrenheit scale also decreases. Both the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales have their respective thermometer for measurements.

On the Fahrenheit scale:

32°F = the freezing point of water. 

212°F = the boiling point of water. 

On the Celsius scale:

 0°C = the freezing point of water.

100°C = the boiling point of water.

 

Conversion From Celsius to Fahrenheit 

The following mathematical formula shows the conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit:

F = ( 9/5 * C) + 32

Where F refers to the temperature in Fahrenheit, and C refers to the temperature in the Centigrade scale. 

 

Conversion From Fahrenheit to Celsius

The following mathematical formula shows the conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius:

C = 5/9 (F – 32)

Where F refers to the temperature in Fahrenheit, and C refers to the temperature in the Centigrade scale. 


Degree Celsius To Fahrenheit 

For converting 1 degree Celsius to Fahrenheit, we will use the following formula:

F = ( 9/5 * C) + 32

Where F refers to the temperature in Fahrenheit, and C refers to the temperature in the Centigrade scale. 

In this particular case, the value of C = 1. So, we will substitute the value of C, and find the value of F.

F = ( 9/5 * 1) + 32

F = ( 9/5 ) + 32

F = (9 + 160)/5

F = (169)/5

F = 33.8

So, 1 degree Celsius = 33.8°F


Degree Fahrenheit To Celsius

For converting 1 degree Fahrenheit to Celsius, we will use the following formula:

C = 5/9 (F – 32)

Where F refers to the temperature in Fahrenheit, and C refers to the temperature in the Centigrade scale. 

In this particular case, the value of F = 1. So, we will substitute the value of F, and find the value of C.

C = 5/9 (1 – 32)

C = 5/9 (- 31)

C = - 155/9

C = - 17.2222

So, 1 degree Fahrenheit = - 17.2222°C

 

Solved Examples:

Question 1

Convert 12°F to Celsius. 

Answer:

For converting 12°F to Celsius, we will use the following formula:

C = 5/9 (F – 32)

Where F refers to the temperature in Fahrenheit, and C refers to the temperature in the Centigrade scale. 

In this particular case, the value of F = 12. So, we will substitute the value of F, and find the value of C.

C = 5/9 (12 – 32)

C = 5/9 (-20)

C = - 100/9

C = - 11.11

So, 12°F = - 11.11°C

 

Question 2

Convert 30°C to Fahrenheit. 

Answer:

For converting 30°C to Fahrenheit, we will use the following formula:

F = ( 9/5 * C) + 32

Where F refers to the temperature in Fahrenheit, and C refers to the temperature in the Centigrade scale. 

In this particular case, the value of C = 30. So, we will substitute the value of C, and find the value of F.

F = ( 9/5 * 30) + 32

F = ( 9 * 6) + 32

F = 54 + 32

F = 86

So, 30°C = 86°F


The history of the Celsius and Fahrenheit Scales of Temperature

Of the two, the Fahrenheit Scale was invented first. It was invented by the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit I'm 1724, who based his scale on the freezing temperature of brine and his estimation of the average inner body temperature of a person. Brine, which is a solution of water, ice, and ammonium chloride (a type of salt) was estimated to freeze at 0°F according to his scale. On the hotter side of the scale, he estimated that the average human's internal body temperature would be around 90°F, a figure that he later revised to 96°F. Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit came quite close with that latter estimate, as we now know that the average human's internal body temperature is around 98°F.

The Celsius Scale was developed around 20 years after the Fahrenheit Scale, in 1742. The inventor of the scale was named Anders Celsius, after whom the scale is named. However, that was not his original name for it. The name he gave, which was used for the next couple of centuries before being changed, was the Centigrade Scale. This name was given because of the base of the calculation. In his scale, Celsius estimated that the melting point of snow would be around 0°C while the boiling point of water would be 100°C. This 100 point difference led to the name Centigrade, coming from the Latin words centum meaning 100 and gradus meaning steps. 

Most places that follow the metric system use the Celsius Scale as the main measurement of temperature, while other places use the Fahrenheit Scale. However, scientific research all over the world uses the Celsius Scale.

You can click here to learn how to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa.

FAQs on Relation Between Fahrenheit and Celsius

1. What is the fundamental relationship between the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales?

Both the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales measure temperature, but they are based on different reference points. The Celsius scale sets the freezing point of water at 0°C and the boiling point at 100°C. In contrast, the Fahrenheit scale sets these same points at 32°F and 212°F, respectively. This difference in reference points and the range between them is the basis of their mathematical relationship.

2. What is the formula to convert a temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit?

To convert a temperature from Celsius (°C) to Fahrenheit (°F), you use the following formula: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32. This means you first multiply the Celsius temperature by 9/5 (or 1.8) and then add 32 to the result to get the equivalent temperature in Fahrenheit.

3. How do you convert a temperature from Fahrenheit back to Celsius?

To convert a temperature from Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C), the correct formula is: °C = (°F - 32) × 5/9. In this calculation, you first subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then multiply the result by 5/9 to find the equivalent temperature in Celsius.

4. Why is 32 subtracted in the Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion formula?

The number 32 is subtracted because the freezing point of water on the Fahrenheit scale is 32°F, while on the Celsius scale it is 0°C. By subtracting 32 from the Fahrenheit reading, you are essentially aligning the starting points of both scales. This step ensures that 0°C correctly corresponds to 32°F before applying the ratio to account for the different sizes of the degrees.

5. What does the 9/5 ratio in the temperature conversion formula represent?

The 9/5 ratio represents the difference in the magnitude of a single degree between the two scales. The temperature range between water's freezing and boiling points is 100 degrees on the Celsius scale (100 - 0) but 180 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale (212 - 32). The ratio of these ranges is 180/100, which simplifies to 9/5 (or 1.8). This means a change of 1 degree Celsius is equivalent to a change of 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. How does the Kelvin scale relate to Celsius and Fahrenheit?

The Kelvin (K) scale is an absolute temperature scale where 0 K represents absolute zero. It is directly related to the Celsius scale, making conversions simple. The formula is: K = °C + 273.15. There is no direct, simple formula to convert from Fahrenheit to Kelvin; you must first convert the Fahrenheit temperature to Celsius and then convert that value to Kelvin.

7. At what temperature do the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales show the same numerical reading?

The Celsius and Fahrenheit scales show the same reading at exactly -40 degrees. At this specific point, -40°C is equal to -40°F. This is the only temperature where the values on both scales coincide, which can be proven by setting °C = °F in the conversion formula and solving for the temperature.

8. In which real-world applications is the Fahrenheit scale still primarily used?

The Fahrenheit scale is primarily used in the United States and a few of its associated territories. Its most common real-world applications include:

  • Daily weather forecasting and reporting.
  • Non-scientific temperature measurements in households, such as for cooking and baking with ovens calibrated in Fahrenheit.
  • Body temperature readings in clinical settings.
Most other countries and the global scientific community use the Celsius scale for these purposes.