Temperature is a kind of indication of the rise of the heat of a body. Units of temperature are different from each other and measured using different ways based on the application and as recognized by international standards.
Celsius (°C):
The Celsius scale, widely used globally, sets the freezing point of water at 0°C and the boiling point at 100°C under standard atmospheric pressure. It is a go-to unit for everyday temperature measurements and scientific contexts.
Fahrenheit (°F):
Commonly used in the United States and a few other countries, Fahrenheit sets the freezing point of water at 32°F and the boiling point at 212°F under standard atmospheric pressure. It coexists with Celsius in weather reports and daily life.
Kelvin (K):
The Kelvin scale, the standard unit in the International System of Units (SI), is an absolute scale with zero Kelvin representing absolute zero—the point at which particles have minimal thermal motion. Kelvin is frequently used in scientific and engineering applications.
Rankine (°R):
An absolute temperature scale used in engineering and thermodynamics, the Rankine scale is based on the Fahrenheit scale, with absolute zero at 0°R. It provides a parallel absolute temperature measure alongside Kelvin.
Delisle (°De):
Proposed by French astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle, the Delisle scale has zero at the boiling point of water and 150°De at absolute zero. Though not widely adopted, it adds a historical perspective to temperature measurement.
Newton (°N):
A scale proposed by Sir Isaac Newton, the Newton scale sets freezing at 0°N and boiling at 33°N. While not widely used, it marks an interesting historical attempt at temperature measurement.
Réaumur (°Ré):
Created by René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, this scale uses the freezing point of water as 0°Ré and the boiling point as 80°Ré. Though largely historical, it offers insight into early temperature measurement systems.
Rømer (°Rø):
Invented by Ole Rømer, the Rømer scale has the freezing point of water at 0°Rø and the boiling point at 60°Rø. Like other historical scales, it provides a glimpse into the evolution of temperature measurement.
Planck Temperature (Tₚ):
A theoretical maximum temperature based on Planck units, the Planck temperature represents the highest possible temperature in the universe. It is a concept rooted in quantum physics and cosmology.
Electronvolt Temperature (eV):
In particle physics, temperatures are sometimes measured in electronvolts (eV), a unit of energy. This unconventional approach is particularly relevant when describing temperatures in the early universe or in high-energy particle interactions.
Understanding these ten different units of temperature provides a comprehensive view of the diversity in temperature measurements in the world.
While Celsius and Fahrenheit are mostly used in day-to-day daily life, the historical, theoretical, and specialized units contribute to the rich tapestry of how we comprehend and quantify temperature in various contexts.