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Explanation of the Fahrenheit & Celsius Weather Scales

Some people wear a coat at 32 degrees, while others dress in shorts and sandals. The difference lies in the temperature scale they use -- 32 degrees Fahrenheit is the freezing point of water, but 32 degrees Celsius is warm.

History
- Daniel Fahrenheit invented the mercury thermometer in the early 1700s and calibrated it setting the temperature of a mixture of ice, water and salt at 0 degrees; the freezing point of water at 32 degrees; and the temperature of a healthy human body at 96 degrees. Later, scientists re-calibrated the scale using 212 degrees as the boiling point of water, which resulted in a human body temperature of 98.6. Alvin Celsius developed the Celsius scale using 0 degrees as the boiling point of water and 100 degrees as the freezing point, but scientists later inverted these points.
Use
- Most countries use the Celsius scale, as do scientists. As of 2010, only the United States, Liberia and Burma have not officially adopted SI units and apply the Fahrenheit temperature scale in everyday use.
Conversion
- To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply degrees C by 1.8 and add 32. From Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 from degrees F and divide by 1.8.

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