The Debate Between Fahrenheit And Celsius: Which Is Better

Biscuits or cookies? Flats or apartments? Lifts or elevators? Farenheit or Celcius? Depending on which side of the world you are from, you might have a particular preference for each term, especially the last one. In this article, we will explore the difference between Fahrenheit and Celcius to find out if there is even a better measurement choice.

History of Fahrenheit and Celcius

The Fahrenheit measurement was created in 1724 by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. He was also the first person to create a consistent and reproducible scale for thermometers. The scale picked up in England, reaching various corners of the Earth through British imperialism.

The Celcius measurement, on the other hand, was developed in 1742 by Anders Celcius, which was then incorporated into the metric measurement system. As the metric system gained popularity globally, most nations turned to use the metric system. At that point, Celsius became the primary mode of measurement for temperature, with the exception of a few countries, such as the USA.

Celsius, the way of water

The most notable element of Celsius is that it perfectly marks the boiling and melting points of water at 100 and 0 degrees Celsius, respectively. Such perfect roundness makes Celsius ideal for science. The friendliness of the measurement style is a quality not to be underestimated.

Celsius also shares identical-sized units as Kelvin, which is the temperature scale scientists prefer to use. The point is not to put across that Celsius got into the metric system because it was better. Rather, it is better because it is part of the metric system.

Fahrenheit, the devil is in the details

The key advantage Fahrenheit has over Cesisus is that it is significantly more precise due to its smaller unit size. One degree in Celsius is equivalent to 1.8 degrees in Fahrenheit. The greater detail in the temperature scale means that it is also harder to remember the boiling and melting points of water, which is 212 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. They are still a whole number, but definitely not as easy to remember as 100 and 0 degrees Celsius.

Does Kelvin beat both Fahrenheit and Celsius?

Kelvin is the temperature scale scientists prefer to use. Both Fahrenheit and Celsius have set base points in a sensible manner. However, Kelvin’s set base points make more sense in a scientific manner.

Kelvin’s zero measurement scale is set at the coldest temperature ever. It bases its zero on the lowest temperature, possibly, absolute zero. This means that, unlike Fahrenheit and Celsius, which has negative scales, Kelvin does not have them.

For example, on the Celsius scale, water boils at 100 degrees and freezes at zero, but its absolute zero range is -273.15. In the Fahrenheit scale, water boils at 212 degrees and freezes at 32 degrees, but its absolute zero range is -459.67 degrees. The Kelvin scale, on the other hand, boils at 373 and freezes at 273.15, but its absolute zero range is zero.

For science, it might be the most accurate to use Kelvin to measure temperature. However, it might not be the easiest to use for daily usage. Therefore, Kelvin is not going to be taking over air conditioning units and household thermometers.

Conclusion

So, is Fahrenheit better than Celsius, or vice versa? We think that the debate tilts in favour of Celsius based on three key points:

• The simplicity of Celsius

• Its general suitability for science

• It is widely used globally

At the end of the day, it is not about whether one is better than the other. It is about which offers you the most straightforward calculation.

If you are interested in other interesting topics, such as “Is shrinking and growing like ant-man possible in real life?”, then look no further than Physics Tuition. We offer interesting physics classes that inspire our students to explore the world of physics. For more information about our classes, head over to http://www.physics.com.sg/ to find out more!