Temperature is a type of measure of the increase in heat in a body. Temperature units differ from each other and are measured in different ways depending on the application and international standards.
Celsius (°C):
The Celsius scale, widely used around the world, defines the freezing point of water at 0 °C and the boiling point at 100 °C under normal atmospheric pressure. It is an important unit for daily temperature measurements and scientific connections.
Fahrenheit (°F):
Fahrenheit is commonly used in the United States and some other countries. The freezing point of water is 32°F and the boiling point is 212°F under normal atmospheric pressure. In weather forecasts and daily life, it is used together with Celsius.
Kelvin (K):
The Kelvin scale, the standard unit of the International System of Units (SI), is an absolute scale, with zero Kelvin representing absolute zero – the point at which particles exhibit minimal thermal motion. Kelvin is commonly used in scientific and engineering applications.
Rankine (°R):
The Rankine scale is an absolute temperature scale used in engineering and thermodynamics. It is based on the Fahrenheit scale, with absolute zero being 0°R. Offers an absolute temperature measurement parallel to the Kelvin scale.
Delisle (°De):
The Delisle scale, proposed by French astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle, has zero at the boiling point of water and absolute zero at 150° De. Although not widely used, it adds a historical perspective to temperature measurement.
Newton (°N):
The Newton scale was proposed by Sir Isaac Newton and defines the freezing point at 0°N and the boiling point at 33°N. Although not widely used, it represents an interesting historical attempt at temperature measurement.
Réaumur (°Ré):
This scale, developed by René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, uses the freezing point of water at 0°Ré and the boiling point at 80°Ré. Although largely historical, it offers insights into early temperature measurement systems.
Romans (°Rø):
The Rømer scale, invented by Ole Rømer, has a freezing point of water of 0°Rø and a boiling point of 60°Rø. Like other historical scales, it offers information about the development of temperature measurement.
Planck temperature (Tₚ):
The Planck temperature is a theoretical maximum temperature based on Planck units and represents the highest possible temperature in the universe. The concept has its roots in quantum physics and cosmology.
Electron volt temperature (eV):
In particle physics, temperatures are sometimes measured in electron volts (eV), a unit of energy. This unconventional approach is particularly relevant when describing temperatures in the early universe or in high-energy particle interactions.
Understanding these ten different temperature units provides a comprehensive view of the variety of temperature measurements in the world.
Although Celsius and Fahrenheit are primarily used in everyday life, the historical, theoretical, and specialized units add to the diversity we associate with temperature in different contexts.
