Engineering ToolBox - Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications!

Temperature

Introduction to temperature - including Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin and Rankine definitions - and an online temperature converter.

Sponsored Links

Temperature (sometimes called thermodynamic temperature) is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system. Temperature is the degree of " hotness " ( or " coldness ") - a measure of the heat intensity . The most common symbol or abbreviation for temperature is T .

When two objects of different temperatures are in contact - the warmer object becomes colder while the colder object becomes warmer. This means that heat flows from the warmer to the colder object.

Temperature Converter

Convert between °C (Celsius), °F (Fahrenheit), K (Kelvin) and °R (Rankine) with the calculator below:

Temperature Units
Rankine Kelvin Fahrenheit Celsius
°R K °F C
0 0 -459.67 -273.15
100 55.56 -359.67 -217.59
180 100 -279.67 -173.15
459.67 255.37 0 -17.78
491.67 273.15 32 0
559.67 310.93 100 37.78
671.67 373.15 212 100

Temperature Converter - Web App

Add the Temperature Converter Web App to your mobile device or desktop. The App is saved in your browser and works offline automatically after first visit.

Degree Celsius (°C) and Degree Fahrenheit (°F)

A thermometer can help us determine how cold or hot a substance is. Temperature is in most of the world measured and reported in degrees Celsius ( °C ). In the U.S. it is common to report temperature in degrees Fahrenheit ( °F ) . In the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales the temperatures where ice melts (water freezes) and water boils are used as reference points.

  • In the Celsius scale the freezing point of water is defined as 0 °C and the boiling point is defined as 100 °C
  • In the Fahrenheit scale the water freezes at 32 °F and boils at 212 °F

In the Celsius scale there are 100 degrees between the freezing point and the boiling point of water compared to 180 degrees in the Fahrenheit scale. This means that 1 °C = 1.8 °F (check the section about temperature differences below).

Values can be converted between the two temperature units by using the equations:

T(°F) = 1.8 T(°C) + 32                           (1)

T(°C) = (T(°F) - 32)/1.8                         (2)

where

T(°C)= temperature (°C )

T(°F)= temperature (°F)

Temperature - Celsius versus Fahrenheit diagram

Celsius vs. Fahrenheit

Celsius vs. Fahrenheit
Temperature
oC o F
-20 -4
-15 5
-10 14
-5 23
0 32
5 41
10 50
15 59
20 68
25 77
30 86
35 95
40 104
45 113
50 122

Example : A patient with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) has a temperature of 106 °F. What is the temperature in Celsius?

T(°C) = (106 °F - 32)/1.8   = 41.1 ° C

Temperature Conversion Table - oC vs °F

Temperature - Celsius vs Fahrenheit conversion table

Temperature Difference - or Temperature Change - degree Celsius versus degree Fahrenheit

Note that for temperature difference (change) - as used in heat loss diagrams

  • 1 degree Celsius of temperature difference equals 1.8 degree Fahrenheit of temperature difference

ΔT(°C) = ΔT(°F) / 1.8 (3)

ΔT(°F) = 1.8 ΔT(°C) (4)

where

ΔT(°F) = temperature difference (°F)

ΔT(°C) = temperature difference (°C)

Example : Water is cooled from 100°C to 60°C. What is the temperature difference in °F?

Temperature difference in degrees Celsius:

ΔT(°C) = 100 °C < - 60 °C = 40 C °

Note that °C is used for actual temperatures (temperature relative to 273.15 K) and C° is used for temperature differences.

Temperature difference in degrees Fahrenheit calculated by using (1)

100 °C = 1.8 (100 °C ) + 32 = 212 °F

60 °C = 1.8 (60 °C ) + 32 = 140 °F

ΔT (°F) = 212°F - 140 °F = 72 °F

Temperature difference in degrees Fahrenheit calculated by using (3)

ΔT (°F) = 1.8 (40 C ° ) = 72 °F

Temperature Difference Converter

Kelvin - K

Another scale (common in science) is Kelvin, or the Absolute Temperature Scale . On the Kelvin scale the coldest temperature possible, -273 °C , has a value of 0 Kelvin ( 0 K ) and is called the absolute zero. Units on the Kelvin scale are called Kelvins ( K ) and no degree symbol is used.
Because there are no lower temperatures than 0 K - the Kelvin scale does not have negative numbers.

The Kelvin has the same incremental scale as the Celsius scale and one unit Kelvin is equal in size to one unit Celsius:

1 unit Kelvin  = 1 unit °C

ΔT(°K) = ΔT(°C)                                (5)

To calculate a Kelvin temperature, add 273 to the Celsius temperature:

T(K) = T(°C) + 273.15                        (6)

Example: What is the normal body temperature of 37 oC in the Kelvin scale?

T(K) = T( °C) + 273.15 = 37 °C + 273.15 = 310.15 K

Degree Rankine - R

In the English system the absolute temperature is in degrees Rankine (R) , not in Fahrenheit:

T(°R) = 1.8*T(K)                                 (7)

T(°R) = 1.8*(T(°C)+273.15)

T(°R) = T(°F) + 459.67                      (8)

ΔT(°R) = ΔT(°F)                                (9)

Celcius to Fahrenheit Converter (and vice versa)

Celsius to Fahrenheit converter

Download and print Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter!

Sponsored Links

Related Topics

Related Documents

Sponsored Links

Search

Search is the most efficient way to navigate the Engineering ToolBox.

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - Online 3D modeling!

3D Engineering ToolBox Extension to SketchUp - add parametric components to your SketchUp model

Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with older versions of the amazing SketchUp Make and the newer "up to date" SketchUp Pro . Add the Engineering ToolBox extension to your SketchUp Make/Pro from the Extension Warehouse !

Translate this Page

Translate this page to Your Own Language .

About the Engineering ToolBox!

Privacy Policy

We don't collect information from our users. More about

Citation

This page can be cited as

  • The Engineering ToolBox (2003). Temperature. [online] Available at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/temperature-d_291.html [Accessed Day Month Year].

Modify the access date according your visit.

3D Engineering ToolBox - draw and model technical applications! 2D Engineering ToolBox - create and share online diagram drawing templates! Engineering ToolBox Apps - mobile online and offline engineering applications!

Unit Converter

















































3.15.9

Sponsored Links
.