Cassie Whitlow Temperature Scales First off, what is Temperature?

Temperature is the average energy of the molecules that composes a substance. (Casmos, 1) In simple terms temperature is the measure of kinetic energy. Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin are all temperature scales invented by different men during different time periods. Gabriel Fahrenheit invented a temperature scale in 1714, witch we know today as Fahrenheit. Then in 1742 Anders Celsius invented the Celsius temperature scale. Finally came the Kelvin scale invented by Lord Kelvin in the late 1800s. Secondly, both the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales are both based on the freezing temperature of water. Zero Fahrenheit was the coldest temperature to first be discovered, this temperature was found using ice and water. The same man who invented Fahrenheit also invented the mercury thermometer. In 1742 a man by the name of Anders Celsius invented the Celsius scale. This scale uses the freezing point of water as zero and the boiling point of water as 100. Anders was really looking to discover if temperature was connected to atmospheric pressure. In his Swedish paper "Observations of two persistent degrees on a thermometer" he reports on experiments to check that the freezing point is independent of latitude (and of atmospheric pressure).( tititudorancea, 1) Celsius was first known as centigrade until the name was later changed to Celsius. This temperature gauge is also part of the metric system. Although used often this temperature scale is not yet fully embraced in the United States.

The third scale is known as the Kelvin scale also known as the absolute scale. The Kelvin scale was invented by a man named William Thomson in the late 1800s and is rarely used outside of science. On the Kelvin scale two hundred and seventy three K is the freezing point of water and three hundred seventy three degrees K as the boiling point of water. Temperature is measured all over the world for all kinds of different reasons. Humans couldnt live without the knowledge of temperature that we have today. We now know that fevers in humans and animals can help identify infection at an early stage. We also have learned ideal temperatures for growing food and other plants. In the world today we also track the earths temperature to recognize change, good or bad.

1.http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/light_lessons/thermal/measure.ht ml 2. http://www.tititudorancea.org/z/biography_of_anders_celsius.htm