Rank the size of a change in temperature of one degree fahrenheit, one degree celsius, and one kelvin.
Ok I can't seem to get this question right no matter what I do. Isn't one fahrenheit degree the largest then celsius and kelvin? There are 180 fahrenheit degrees between the freezing point and boiling point of water but only 100 celsius degrees. So the larger change in temperature im assuming should be 1 degree fahrenheit.
Have a look at a 12 inch/30 cm ruler. Most have inches on one side and centimetres on the other. Which is the larger unit?
The range from the freezing temperature of water to the boiling point of water is as follows:
Fahrenheit: 32 to 212 deg., a range of 180 degrees
Celsius: 0 to 100 deg., a range of 100 degrees
Kelvin: 273 to 373 deg., a range of 100 degrees
So ... if we are talking about temperature change, not tmeperature,
180 F = 100 C = 100 K
Based on that relationship,
1 deg.C = 1 deg.K = 1.8 deg.F
Which degree is the smallest?
Actually, the size of a change in temperature of one degree Fahrenheit, one degree Celsius, and one Kelvin is the same. One degree Fahrenheit is equal to about 0.56 degrees Celsius, and one degree Celsius is equal to one Kelvin.
The Fahrenheit scale is based on dividing the range between the freezing point and boiling point of water into 180 equal parts, while the Celsius scale divides the same range into 100 equal parts. However, this difference in scale does not mean that one degree Fahrenheit represents a larger change in temperature than one degree Celsius or Kelvin.
Actually, the size of a change in temperature of one degree is the same across Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin scales. The misconception you mentioned arises from confusion between differences in the size of the temperature scales and differences in the intervals between freezing and boiling points of water.
To understand this concept, let's look at the conversion formula between these scales:
1. Fahrenheit (°F): This is a temperature scale commonly used in the United States. To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, you use the formula: °C = (°F - 32) x 5/9. To convert Fahrenheit to Kelvin, you use the formula: K = (°F + 459.67) x 5/9.
2. Celsius (°C): This is the most widely used temperature scale globally. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, you use the formula: °F = (°C x 9/5) + 32. To convert Celsius to Kelvin, you simply add 273.15: K = °C + 273.15.
3. Kelvin (K): This is an absolute temperature scale commonly used in scientific applications. One degree Kelvin is the same as one degree Celsius.
Now, let's consider the freezing and boiling points of water:
- Fahrenheit scale: The freezing point of water is 32°F and the boiling point is 212°F. Therefore, the interval between freezing and boiling points is 180°F (212°F - 32°F).
- Celsius scale: The freezing point of water is 0°C and the boiling point is 100°C. Hence, the interval between freezing and boiling points is 100°C.
- Kelvin scale: The freezing point of water is 273.15 K and the boiling point is 373.15 K. So, the interval between freezing and boiling points is 100 K.
As you can see from the conversions and the comparison of these intervals, one degree Fahrenheit is not larger than one degree Celsius or one degree Kelvin. The size of the degree is consistent across all three temperature scales, but the intervals between major reference points differ due to the way the scales are constructed and labeled.
Therefore, the ranking of the size of a change in temperature of one degree would be the same for all three scales: Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin.