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Fahrenheit facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Raumthermometer Fahrenheit+Celsius
Thermometer with Fahrenheit (marked on outer bezel) and Celsius (marked on inner dial) degree units

Fahrenheit (more precisely, a degree Fahrenheit) is a unit of measurement used to measure temperature. The conversion rate to Celsius is C= 5/9 x (F − 32). The degree Fahrenheit is abbreviated °F.

History

Fahrenheit small
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit

This temperature scale was made in 1724 by a German scientist named Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. In the twentieth century, the unit declined in favour for the degree Celsius. It is still used often in the United States. In the United Kingdom, Fahrenheit is encountered on some websites, as well as some weather forecasts; the main reason for this is because some of the older population are more familiar with Fahrenheit.

The use of the degree Fahrenheit is in decline throughout the majority of the world with the USA being the main exception.

The degree Fahrenheit is often considered to be "old fashioned" throughout the majority of the world as it is an older and outdated way of measuring temperature. The degree Celsius has largely replaced Fahrenheit's use as it is generally easier to use.

Examples

On the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°.

  • Room temperature is about 70 °F.
  • A human's body temperature is usually close to 98.6 °F.
  • Absolute zero is –459.67 °F.

Related pages

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Grado Fahrenheit para niños

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