The countries that continue to use the Fahrenheit scale when referring to aspects related to temperature or climate are the United States, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Liberia.
Many people think that this scale is in disuse or that its use is very limited or almost non-existent. It is a very true fact that fewer and fewer use this measurement scale
But what is the Fahrenheit scale? What is its origin? Why do some countries still use it? To answer these questions, it is necessary to know some general aspects related to temperature measurement.
Definition
The Fahrenheit scale is defined as a scale or unit of measurement of temperature expressed in degrees with the symbol ° F.
This scale establishes that the freezing point of water is at 32 ° F, while its boiling point is given at 212 ° F.
If this scale is taken to its equivalence, expressed in degrees Celsius or degrees centigrade (° C), we have that 32 ° F is equivalent to 0 ° C (freezing point of water); while 212 ° F equals 100 ° C (boiling point of water).
Origin
The Fahrenheit scale of temperature measurement is the brainchild of the physicist, engineer, inventor (he is credited with having invented the thermometer) and even glassblower named Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, who was born in the city of Gdansk, Poland, on May 24, 1686.
As explained by Fahrenheit himself in an article of his published in 1724, to create his scale of temperature measurement, he established three reference temperature points.
The first point or "zero point" is marked by dipping a thermometer into a solution that combines ammonium chloride salts, pure water, and ice. This solution has the virtue of maintaining a stable temperature around 0 ° F.
Subsequently, place the thermometer in this solution long enough for it to register the lowest temperature point.
The second benchmark is set at 32 ° F, but using only ice and water in the solution.
Finally, the third reference point is 96 ° F, and it is determined by the level that the liquid in the thermometer (alcohol or mercury) reaches when you place it in your own mouth.
After establishing that his body temperature was 96 ° F, he divided the resulting scale into twelve parts, and then again divided each of these into eight identical subdivisions, thus obtaining his scale of 96 degrees.
This scale was later modified, since the actual body temperature under normal conditions was determined to be 98.6 ° F.
As a result, with its scale, it establishes the extremes of temperature in which the freezing point of water is registered at the 32 ° F mark, while the opposite extreme, the 212 ° F mark, is the evaporation point. or boiling the water.
Each of the marks or divisions and subdivisions on the scale equals 1 ° F.
Countries that use the Fahrenheit scale
For a long time, most English-speaking countries, or those that were under the influence of England, used the so-called imperial unit system, which applies the Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature.
For practical, precision and even economic reasons, many of these countries saw the international measurement system or SI as more advantageous, ceasing to use the old system of imperial units.
Today the only countries in the world that use the Fahrenheit scale to express temperature are the United States, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Liberia.
However, the United States has established the expression of temperature in degrees Celsius, for reasons of convenience and economy in the scientific, technological and exchange with other nations.
References
- Rubiera, J. (March 13, 2016). Excerpt from the article “Celsius vs. Fahrenheit ”. Recovered from oncubamagazine.com
- pce-iberica.es. (without date). Article “temperature measurement units”. Recovered from pce-iberica.es
- Mercedes S., R and Solís F., R. (2016). Book "Scientific and Mathematical Field", Pag.13. Recovered from books.google.co.ve
- sc.ehu.es. (without date). Extract from the website "International System of Measurements". Recovered from sc.ehu.es
- Sabbut (pseudonym). (August 22, 2003). "Degree Fahrenheit." Recovered from es.wikipedia.org