Q: Why does the United States use Fahrenheit instead of Celsius?

A: The United States adopted Fahrenheit during its early history, influenced by British practices. While Celsius is used in most of the world, Fahrenheit remains in use in the U.S. for everyday temperature measurements due to tradition.

Q: Who invented the Celsius scale?

A: The Celsius scale was invented by Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer, in 1742. It is based on the freezing and boiling points of water under standard atmospheric conditions.

Q: Why does the boiling point of water change with elevation?

A: The boiling point of water decreases as elevation increases because atmospheric pressure is lower at higher altitudes. With less pressure, water molecules require less energy to escape into the air as vapor, causing water to boil at a lower temperature.

Q: Does elevation affect the freezing point of water?

A: Elevation has a minimal effect on the freezing point of water under normal conditions. However, extremely low atmospheric pressures, such as those found at very high altitudes, can slightly lower the freezing point.

Q: What is the Kelvin scale used for?

A: The Kelvin scale is primarily used in scientific fields such as physics and chemistry. It starts at absolute zero (0 K), the theoretical point where all molecular motion stops.

Q: How is the Rankine scale different from Kelvin?

A: The Rankine scale is similar to Kelvin but uses Fahrenheit degrees instead of Celsius degrees. It is used in some engineering fields, particularly in thermodynamics.

Q: Why is Celsius considered more practical than Fahrenheit?

A: Celsius is considered more practical because it is based on the freezing (0°C) and boiling (100°C) points of water, making it easier to understand and use in everyday life.

Q: What is absolute zero?

A: Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature, where all molecular motion theoretically stops. It is 0 K on the Kelvin scale, -273.15°C on the Celsius scale, and -459.67°F on the Fahrenheit scale.

Q: Why is Kelvin used in scientific measurements?

A: Kelvin is used in scientific measurements because it is an absolute temperature scale, meaning it starts at absolute zero. This makes it ideal for calculations in physics and chemistry.

Q: What is the boiling point of water on the Rankine scale?

A: The boiling point of water on the Rankine scale is 671.67°R, which is equivalent to 373.15 K or 212°F.