Editing Encyclopedia:Measurements Debate (section)

==Fahrenheit==
Concerning the Fahrenheit temperature scale, a statement made above, and Web site [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a891215.html] attempt to explain its origin. However, they are incorrect. The Web site claims that the true origins are unknown, which is also incorrect. Some sites, such as [http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/thermometer.asp], like many others, simply invent the origins (for example, that the freezing point of water was arbitrarily set as 32°). Sites such as [http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae64.cfm] have almost the correct information. [http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/Atmosphere/temperature/fahrenheit.html] correctly explains that the freezing point was determined by measuring the lowest temperature achievable in a laboratory, which of course resulted by mixing water, ice, and salt in the right proportions (not equally) and letting it sit until the temperature is stable. (He did not want negative temperatures). Laughable today, perhaps, but it made sense in 1714 when he did his experiments. [http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/52561.html] explains that the upper bound came from measuring the internal temperature of a healthy person and calling it 96 degrees (that site explains why).

Other scales include the Réaumur (1730), Rømer (1730+), Kelvin (1862), and Rankine (ca. 1860). See, e.g., [http://www.csgnetwork.com/tempconv.html].

[[User:David spector|David]] 19:49 Mar 3, 2003 (UTC)

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I find it amazing that people make statements about metric temperature measurements not having enough accuracy for weather readings.  Celsius is perfect for weather, 0 is freezing, 0-10 cold, 10-20 cool, 20-30 moderate, 30-40 hot, 40-50 very hot.  Easy!  People who claim that Celsius doesn't have enough accuracy are just pulling at straws.  Most people won't notice a difference of 1 degree Celsius and if that much accuracy is required then throw in a decimal point.

:It depends on your purpose.  If all you want is the weather report, you could probably report it in 5° increments.  :-) &mdash;[[User:Moverton|Mike]] 07:35, Feb 6, 2005 (UTC)

:I've noticed that American TV weather casts almost systematically report temperatures in 5 °F spans (e.g. « upper sixties » meaning 65-70 °F), so the argument about Celsius scale not being "fine enough" is a crock.
:[[User:Urhixidur|Urhixidur]] 03:36, 2005 July 17 (UTC)