The Celsius Scale - Definition, Examples, Quiz, FAQ, Trivia
Learn how we measure temperature in science and everyday life
What is the Celsius Scale?
The Celsius scale is a way to measure temperature using degrees. It was created by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in 1742. This scale is used by scientists around the world and in most countries for everyday temperature measurements.
The Celsius scale has two important reference points:
• 0°C - The temperature where water freezes (turns to ice)
• 100°C - The temperature where water boils (turns to steam)
This makes it very useful for understanding weather, cooking, and scientific experiments. The Celsius scale is part of the metric system, which is used for measurements in science and many countries around the world.
Temperature Tip!
Your body temperature is normally about 37°C. When you have a fever, it goes above this number!
Celsius Scale Facts
Here are some important facts about the Celsius temperature scale:
Freezing Point
Water freezes at 0°C at sea level
Boiling Point
Water boils at 100°C at sea level
Symbol
Degrees Celsius is written as °C
Human Body
Normal body temperature is 37°C
Room Temp
Comfortable room temperature is 20-22°C
The Celsius scale is used in science as part of the International System of Units (SI). It's important to note that the freezing and boiling points of water change slightly with air pressure. At higher elevations, water boils at temperatures below 100°C!
Celsius-Scale-3Scale History!
Anders Celsius originally set 0° as boiling and 100° as freezing! Other scientists later reversed it to the scale we use today.
Converting Temperatures
Sometimes we need to convert between Celsius and other temperature scales. Here are the formulas you need:
Celsius to Fahrenheit
To convert from Celsius (°C) to Fahrenheit (°F):
Example: Convert 20°C to Fahrenheit
°F = (20 × 9/5) + 32 = (36) + 32 = 68°F
Fahrenheit to Celsius
To convert from Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C):
Example: Convert 95°F to Celsius
°C = (95 - 32) × 5/9 = (63) × 5/9 ≈ 35°C
Celsius to Kelvin
To convert from Celsius (°C) to Kelvin (K):
Example: Convert 25°C to Kelvin
K = 25 + 273.15 = 298.15K
Quick Estimate!
To roughly convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: double the Celsius temperature and add 30. (Actual formula: multiply by 1.8 and add 32)
Temperature Quiz
Test your temperature knowledge with this quiz! Answer all 5 questions to see how much you've learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about the Celsius scale:
Fun Temperature Trivia
Discover some amazing facts about temperature and the Celsius scale!
Sun Surface
The surface of the Sun is about 5,500°C. But its core reaches a scorching 15 million °C where nuclear fusion occurs!
Coldest Place
The coldest natural temperature ever recorded on Earth was -89.2°C at Vostok Station, Antarctica in 1983.
Absolute Zero
Scientists have cooled substances to just 0.0000000001°C above absolute zero! At this temperature, atoms move incredibly slowly.
Body Temperature
Normal human body temperature was changed from 37°C to 36.8°C in recent years. Our bodies are slightly cooler than we once thought!
