Question

Explain the different scales used for the measurement of temperature.

Answer 1

1. The SI unit of temperature is Kelvin(K).
2. The other commonly used units are degree Celsius(${}^{0}C$) and degree Fahrenheit (${}^{0}F$).
3. There are temperature scales corresponding to each unit of temperature.
4. These are the Celsius scale, Fahrenheit scale, and Kelvin scale.
5. For all these temperature scales, the lower fixed point is the freezing point of water and the upper fixed point is the boiling point of water.
6. In the Celsius scale and Kelvin scale, the region between these two temperatures is divided into 100 divisions and each division is 1${}^{0}C$ and 1 K respectively.
7. But, in the Fahrenheit scale, this region is divided into 180 divisions and each division is 1${}^{0}F$.
8. A simple relation for interconversion of units among these scales is :
   $$\begin{gathered} \frac{C}{100}=\frac{F-32}{180}=\frac{K-273}{100} \\ or \\ \frac{C}{5}=\frac{F-32}{9}=\frac{K-273}{5} \\ Where, \\ C-valueoftemperatureonCelsiusscale. \\ K-valueoftemperatureonKelvinscale. \\ F-valueoftemperatureonFahrenheitscale. \end{gathered}$$

Thus, the relationship between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin scales of measurement of temperature is $\frac{C}{5}=\frac{F-32}{9}=\frac{K-273}{5}$