Celsius degree

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Celsius degree (symbol: °C) denotes the unit of temperature on the Celsius scale, a temperature scale originally known as the centigrade scale. The Celsius scale is a thermodynamic temperature scale where 0 °C is defined as the freezing point of water and 100 °C is defined as the boiling point of water at a standard atmospheric pressure of 1 atmosphere. The scale is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–1744), who first proposed it in 1742.

History[edit | edit source]

The Celsius temperature scale was originally designed so that the freezing point of water was 0 degrees, and the boiling point was 100 degrees at standard atmospheric pressure. This straightforward definition helped to promote the scale for scientific and daily use. Over time, the definition of the Celsius scale has been redefined to align with the Kelvin temperature scale, which is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units (SI). The degree Celsius remains in use for everyday temperature measurements and is a derived unit in the SI system.

Definition[edit | edit source]

The degree Celsius (°C) is defined in relation to the Kelvin scale. Zero degrees Celsius (0 °C) is exactly 273.15 K. The temperature difference of 1 deg C equals the temperature difference of 1 K, meaning the unit size in each scale is the same. This equivalence makes it simple to convert between Celsius and Kelvin: temperatures in Celsius can be converted to Kelvin by adding 273.15 and vice versa.

Usage[edit | edit source]

The Celsius scale is widely used around the world for most temperature measuring purposes. It is used in all areas of science and technology, particularly in the field of meteorology, climate science, and the medical field, as well as for everyday purposes in almost all countries. The notable exception is the United States, where the Fahrenheit scale is more commonly used for everyday temperature measurements.

Conversion[edit | edit source]

To convert temperatures in degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit, the formula is (°C × 9/5) + 32 = °F. Conversely, to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, the formula is (°F − 32) × 5/9 = °C.

Significance[edit | edit source]

The Celsius scale is significant in scientific research and is used as the standard unit of measurement for temperature in most of the world. Its widespread adoption simplifies international collaboration and communication in science and technology. Furthermore, because of its direct relation to the Kelvin scale, it plays a crucial role in the fields of physics and chemistry where absolute temperatures are required.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Celsius degree Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD