Subject Code PHY Physics 3

Module Code 2.0 Temperature

Lesson ​Code 2.2 Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit Scales
Time Frame 30 minutes

1 2
TA ATA
Components Tasks
(min) (min)
Target By the end of this learning guide, the students should be able to: 0.5
● understand that thermodynamic scale of temperature is
independent of the properties of the system;
● convert between temperature scales; and
● apply models to solve problems.

Hook From the previous lesson, we have mentioned that temperature is a 2.5
measure of “hotness” or “coldness” of an object (or system). This
hotness or coldness is related to how “energetic” the molecules or
atoms that comprise the object are.

To measure temperature, we often use a thermometer. There are

several kinds of thermometers. Earlier commonly used thermometers
consist of a hollow glass tube filled with mercury or with dye-colored
alcohol (Figure 1a), known as the liquid-in-glass thermometers​.
These thermometers exploit the idea that liquid expands more readily
than the glass when the temperature is increased, so the liquid level
rises in the tube.

Another type of thermometer uses a bimetallic strip. This bimetallic

strip (from the name itself) is composed of two different metals
bonded together (Figure 1b). When the system gets hotter, one metal
expands more than the other, so the bimetallic strip bends when the
temperature changes. This strip is usually formed into a spiral, with
the outer end anchored to the thermometer case and the inner end
attached to a pointer. The pointer rotates in response to temperature
changes.

1
​ Time allocation suggested by the teacher.
2
​Actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only).

Physics 3 Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit Scales Page 1 of 6

 Figure 1​: (a) liquid-in-glass thermometer; (b) bimetallic strip

Thermometer that uses bimetallic strip and liquid-in-glass

thermometer are just two of the many kinds of thermometers. There
are other kinds of thermometers that you might want to study further
such as the resistance thermometer, optical pyrometer, and digital
thermometer.

All thermometers measure temperature according to well-defined

scales of measurement. What are the three most common temperature
scales and how do we convert one scale to another? These are the
concepts that we are going to learn in this learning guide.
Ignite The three most commonly used temperature scales are Celsius, 15
Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. It has to be noted that temperature scales are
not created based on the properties of the system but are formed by
identifying two reproducible temperatures as reference points. The
freezing and boiling temperatures of water at standard atmospheric
pressure are commonly used.

Celsius (C) Scale

It is a temperature scale named after Anders Celsius who was a
Swedish astronomer whose greatest accomplishment concerned the
temperature scale he devised, now called the Celsius temperature
scale. Water freezes at 0​o​C and boils at 100​o​C on this scale.

Fahrenheit (F) Scale

It is a temperature scale in which the freezing point of water is 32​o​F
and boiling point of water is 212​o​F under standard atmosphere
pressure. It is named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit and denoted by
o​
F. The Fahrenheit scale is used in some western nations and is still
the most frequently used for common purposes in the United States.
The Fahrenheit scale is not equivalent to that of degree celsius and
kelvin.

Physics 3 Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit Scales Page 2 of 6

 Kelvin (K) Scale
It is a scale of temperature also known as the absolute temperature
scale. This temperature scale is named after the British
mathematician and physicist William Thomson (also known as Lord
Kelvin), who proposed it in 1848. The temperature 0 K is called
absolute zero. Absolute zero is the temperature that is conventionally
thought to be the temperature at which there is no more thermal
energy in a body, that is, the motion of all particles ceases. In the
Kelvin scale, water freezes at 273.16 K and boils at 373.16 K, the
same with the Celsius scale. Thus, Kelvin has the same temperature
difference with that of Celsius degree, i.e., ​1°C change in temperature
is the same as 1 K change in temperature​.

Now, let us derive the formula for temperature in Celsius to

Fahrenheit or vice versa. Suppose T​C and T​F denote temperature in
Celsius and Fahrenheit, respectively. Then, the freezing point of
water in both temperature scales can be written as:

f (T C , T F ) = (0o , 32o )

where we assume T​C as the x-component and T​F the y -component.

On the other hand, the boiling point of water can be written as:

f (T C , T F ) = (100o , 212o )

Using these two points and the two-point form equation of a line, we
can write:
y 2 −y 1
y − y1 = x2 −x1 (x − x1 )

212o −32o
y − 32o = 1000 −0o
(x − 0o )

9
y − 32 = 5 x

or equivalent to

T F = 59 T C + 32o [eqn 1]

Rearranging this equation, we get

T C = 95 (T F − 32) [eqn 2]

The relationships between the three common temperature scales are

shown in Figure 1. Temperatures on these scales can be converted
using the equations in Table 1. To convert between Fahrenheit and
Kelvin, convert to Celsius as an intermediate step.

Physics 3 Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit Scales Page 3 of 6

 Figure 2​: Relationships between the Fahrenheit, Celsius,
and Kelvin temperature scales are shown. The relative sizes
of the scales are also shown. (image by openstax is licensed
under CC BY 4.0)

Table1​: Formulas that one can use to convert the temperature in Celsius ​(T​C​),
Fahrenheit (T​F​), and Kelvin (T​K​) from one into another (table adapted from
openstax)
To convert from … to … We use the equation...

Celsius to Fahrenheit T F = 59 T C + 32

Fahrenheit to Celsius T C = 95 (T F − 32)

Celsius to Kelvin T K = T C + 273.15

Kelvin to Celsius T C = T K − 273.15

Fahrenheit to Kelvin T K = 95 (T F − 32) + 273.15

Kelvin to Fahrenheit T F = 59 (T K − 273.15) + 32

Now, to use the formulas above, consider the following examples.

Example 1
The surface temperature of the sun is approximately ​1.0292 x10​4 o​​ F​.
What is this temperature on the Celsius scale?

Solution
In solving the problem, we use

T C = 95 (T F − 32)

T C = 95 (1.0292x104 − 32)

T C = 5700 o C

Example 2
During summer season, Maria keeps her air conditioner at a
temperature of 65 o​​ F. What is this temperature on the Kelvin scale?

Solution
First, convert the temperature to Celsius.

Physics 3 Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit Scales Page 4 of 6

 T C = 95 (T F − 32)

T C = 95 (65 − 32)

T C = 18o

Now add 273.15 to get the temperature on the Kelvin scale.

T K = T C + 273.15

T K = 18 + 273.15

T K = 291 K

Example 3
While traveling outside the province of Ilocos Sur, Pedro
feels sick. Juan, his companion, gets a thermometer and
measures his temperature. The thermometer records 39​o​C.
a) What is your Fahrenheit temperature? b) Should you seek
medical help?

Solution
a) Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit.

T F = 95 T C + 32

T F = 59 (39) + 32

T F = 102.2 o F

b) Yes. Because the average normal body temperature is

generally accepted as 98.6 o​​ F (37 o​​ C). A temperature over
100.4 °F (38 °C) most often means you have a fever
caused by an infection or illness.
Navigate Write your answers to the following questions on a sheet of paper. 11
Please consult your teacher on guidelines of submission. All items
will be graded.

1. Suppose you are hiking at Mount Apo. At the top, the

temperature early in the morning is 16 o​​ C while by
mid-afternoon, it has warmed to 27.9 o​​ C. a) What is the
difference (in Celsius) between the temperature early in
the morning and in mid-afternoon? (b) Convert this
difference in temperature to Fahrenheit. (c) Convert this
difference in temperature to Kelvin.

2. Dermatologists often remove small precancerous skin

lesions by freezing them quickly with liquid nitrogen,

Physics 3 Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit Scales Page 5 of 6

 which has a temperature of 77 K. What is this temperature
on the (a) Celsius and Fahrenheit scales? (​Cutnell &
Johnson, 2012​)

3. Have your thermometer at home and measure the

temperature of the water coming from your faucet at
different periods of time (morning, noon, and evening).
Record the data on a worksheet (see below). Then convert
it to other temperature scales. Show your complete
solution.
Time T in o​​ C T in o​​ F T in K

7am

12 noon

7pm

Knot In summary, we learned that 1

▪ temperature is an indicator of how cold or warm an object is;
▪ the three most common temperature scales are Kelvin,
Celsius, and Fahrenheit;
▪ by using the formulas in Table 1, you can convert one
temperature scale to another scale.

References:
1. Cook, B. (2012). Physics: The Physical Setting. New Jersey: Pearson Education.
2. Cutnell, J., & Johnson, K. (2012)​ Physics​ (9​th​ ed.). USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3. Giancoli, Douglas C. (2014). ​Physics Principles with Applications 7th ed​. United States of
America: Pearson Education, Inc.
4. Hewitt, P. (1997). ​Conceptual Physics​ (3​rd​ ed.). USA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company,
Inc.
5. Ling, S., Moebs, W., & Sanny, J. (2016). ​Thermometers and Temperature Scales.​ University
Physics, Volume I. Rice University
6. OpenStax College. (2020). Thermometers and Temperature Scales. Retrieved from
https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:FiWjdT98@5/1-2-Thermometers-and-Temperature-
Scales
7. Singh, J. (1999). Dictionary of Physics. India: Sterling Information Technologies
8. Young, D. H., Freedman, A. R., & Ford, A. L. (2011). ​University Physics with Modern
Physics​ (13​th​ ed.)​.​ San Francisco: Pearson Education.
9. Waken,G. (2017). Temperature and Heat. Retrieved from
http://fode.education.gov.pg/courses/Science/Grade%2012/physics/new/Grade.12.Physics.Mo
dule2.pdf

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