1. Lesson 4: Temperature

2. English vs. Metric Units
Which is warmer?
10 degrees F or 0 degrees Celsius
B. 100 degrees F or 100 degrees Celsius
C. 212 degrees F or 100 degrees Celsius

3. English vs. Metric Units
The U.S. is the only nation that continues to use Fahrenheit temperatures for shelter-level (surface) weather observations. However, as of July 1996 all surface temperature observations in National Weather Service reports are now transmitted in degrees Celsius.

4. English vs. Metric Units
Three temperature scales are in common use in science and industry. Two of those scales are SI metric:
The degree Celsius (°C) scale
The kelvin (K) temperature scale
One is non-metric:
The degree Fahrenheit (°F) temperature scale
*Our focus will be on the Celsius scale

5. English vs. Metric Units
Some baseline temperatures in the three temperature scales:
temperature
kelvin
degree Celsius
degree Fahrenheit
symbol K °C °F
boiling point of water
373.15
100.
212.
melting point of ice
273.15 0.
32.
absolute zero

6. English vs. Metric Units
Common temperature comparisons:
temperature
degree Celsius
degree Fahrenheit
symbol °C °F
boiling point of water
100.
212.
average human body temperature
37.
98.6
average room temperature
20. to 25.
68. to 77.
melting point of ice 0.
32.

7. English vs. Metric Units
A degree Celsius memory device:
There are several memory aids that can be used to help understand the degree Celsius temperature scale. One such mnemonic is:
When it's zero it's freezing, when it's 10 it's not, when it's 20 it's warm, when it's 30 it's hot!

8. English vs. Metric Units
Or, another one to help you
remember:
Thirty is hot Twenty is nice Ten is cool Zero is ice

9. Temperature conversions between Fahrenheit and Celsius:
degree Fahrenheit / degree Celsius conversions (exact):
degree F = degree C x
degree C = (degree F - 32.) / 1.8
*note: in case you have done this using 9/5 and 5/9 instead of 1.8—they are equivalent.