Hobbies And Interests
Initial Basis of the Fahrenheit Scale
The original zero of the Fahrenheit system was the point at which of a mixture of ice, water and ammonium chloride existed in fixed quantities. The reason for this particular zero point was that it was relatively stable and could be reproduced under test conditions. The upper basis of his original scale was the average human body temperature. This condition can also be reproduced fairly easily. On Fahrenheit's own thermometer, the middle point between these two readings was 48 degrees. Therefore, the minimum was zero and the maximum was 96.
Changes to the Scale
Fahrenheit eventually changed his reference points slightly in order to account for the freezing and boiling points of water. This was partially due to his own advancements in thermometer construction. Fahrenheit's mercury thermometer could illustrate higher temperatures than his initial, alcohol-based model. Relative to his initial zero point, water froze around 32 degrees and boiled at 212 degrees under normal atmospheric pressure. These two references ultimately became the reference points that we have today. The zero point of his scale was not completely forgotten, but it is far less relevant to daily life than the freezing point of water. Using the freezing point of water as a reference point also makes it easy to compare Fahrenheit to Celsius, which uses the freezing point of water as its zero.
Fahrenheit Degree Intervals
The interval of one degree Fahrenheit was created based on the limitations of Fahrenheit's instruments. You can use simple tools to reliably mark divisions of two. Hence, on Fahrenheit's original thermometer, a midpoint of 48 degrees was far more useful than 50 degrees. Fahrenheit could divide this midpoint by two 24 times and still get whole number results. Hence, this numbering system provided a mathematically simple way to accurately measure temperature.
Conversion to Celsius
Fahrenheit is different from Celsius in two significant ways. First, the degree interval of Fahrenheit is smaller than that of Celsius. Second, the freezing point of water in Fahrenheit is 32 degrees, while it is zero degrees in Celsius. In order to convert between the two systems, you must account for these differences. First, you must subtract 32 degrees from the Fahrenheit measurement. This will adjust for the difference between zero points. Then, you must multiply degrees Fahrenheit by 5/9. This will convert the difference of the degree measurements. For example, take 212 degrees Fahrenheit: 212 minus 32 equals 180 degrees Fahrenheit. If you multiply this by 5/9, you obtain 100 degrees Celsius, or the boiling point of water.