Why do we display temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit?

Answer 1

they are convenient or traditional means of measuring the heat in a standard way to a specific act, for celcius, it conveniently measures temperature relative to the freezing and boiling point of water at 0, and a 100 degrees. there are the absolute scales, but they dont give us a convenient way to measure things relative ot each other in general... on earth. the temperature in space would typically be measured on the absolute scale (degrees rankine) that measures the heat of something relative to the absence of heat, where scientists suspect that all molecular motion stops.

Answer 2

The Fahrenheit scale was developed by Gabriel Fahrenheit. Here is how he calibrated his thermometer:

"placing the thermometer in a mixture of sal ammoniac or sea salt, ice, and water a point on the scale will be found which is denoted as zero. A second point is obtained if the same mixture is used without salt. Denote this position as 30. A third point, designated as 96, is obtained if the thermometer is placed in the mouth so as to acquire the heat of a healthy man." (D. G. Fahrenheit,Phil. Trans. (London) 33, 78, 1724).

The boiling point of water on that scale at standard atmospheric pressure became 212.

Believe it or not, we continue to use that scale today! It is totally arbitrary, but because other thermometers were calibrated against it, it is still used today. It is difficult to break people in the U.S. and some other former British colonies of the habit of using the scale because we are so used to thinking in terms of it.

The Celsius scale was intended to introduce a little more rationality by making the freezing point of water 0 degrees and the boiling point 100.

Answer 3

I'm assuming you live in Canada? Well, at one time, Canada's measurements were all in imperial measure but in the 1970s we switched to metric. There are many people in this country who were brought up using imperial... and Fahrenheit was the measure of temp in this country before metric came to being. So, as a courtesy, many tv stations, radio stations, weather reports.. still show Fahrenheit as well as celsius for those people who never learned metric scale.
I learned measure in imperial and still drive and measure mileage based on imperial gallons.. I do temperature in both celsius and fahrenheit... Younger folk.... say, born from about 1980 would have grown up completely in metric and I've had some 'younger' people ask me about the 'old system.' Though I'm told metric is easier, I still prefer our old system of measure. It's also said that, one day, the entire world will go metric.. currently though, the biggest hold out is the USA.

Answer 4

because we need units to display temperatures and they came up wiht the Celsius and Fahrenheit after the people who made the biggest accomplishments regarding temperature.

Answer 5

It is a courtesy to have both scales on a thermometer in case a scientist wants to know how hot or cold it is.

Answer 6

So we can continue to honor the inventors.

Answer 7

they are their units.......