Heat and temperature
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6. Temperature scales. Celsius scale

Figure 7.5
The image compares all three temperature scales. Each scale uses as reference points the freezing and boiling points of water. Notice that temperatures on the Kelvin scale are not given in degrees (°).
Although some scientists use the Celsius scale,
the SI scale for measuring temperature is the Kelvin scale. Those who live in the U.S.A. are probably most familiar with the Fahrenheit scale.

Thermometers are used to measure temperature according to well-defined scales of measurement, which use reference points to help compare quantities.

A temperature scale can be created by identifying two easily reproducible temperatures.

The freezing and boiling temperatures of water are commonly used.

The centigrade scale or Celsius scale

This scale was originally devised by the Swedish physicist and astronomer Anders Celsius in 1742. The Celsius scale has the freezing point of water at 0 oC, and the boiling point at 100 oC. Its unit is the degree Celsius oC.

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