How To Convert Celsius To Fahrenheit

If you have been on the hunt for a guide about temperature conversion from celsius to fahrenheit, then we’ve got just the post for you. In this article, you will be shown everything you need about temperature conversion from celsius to fahrenheit. Plus, it will also include a conversion chart at the end of this post.

Celsius and Fahrenheit are the scales most often used for reporting room, weather, and water temperatures. The Fahrenheit scale is used in the United States, while the Celsius scale is used worldwide. Indeed, most countries around the world measure their weather and temperatures using the relatively simple Celsius scale. But the United States is one of just a few remaining countries that use Fahrenheit, so it’s important for Americans to know how to convert one to the other, especially when traveling or doing scientific research.

Table of Contents

Celsius Scale

Celsius, or centigrade, is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is one of the most commonly used temperature units. Celsius, also known as centigrade, is a scale to measure temperature. The unit of measurement is the degree Celsius (°C). It is one of the most commonly used temperature units in the world. The unit system is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who developed a similar temperature scale.

From 1743 until 1954, 0°C was defined as the freezing point of water, and 100°C was defined as the boiling point of water, both at a pressure of one standard atmosphere, with mercury as the working material. Although these defining correlations are commonly taught in schools today, by international agreement the unit “degree Celsius” and the Celsius scale are currently defined by two different temperatures: absolute zero and the triple point of Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW; specially purified water).

Besides expressing specific temperatures along its scale (e.g., “Gallium melts at 29.7646°C” and “The temperature outside is 23 degrees Celsius”), the degree Celsius is also suitable for expressing temperature intervals — differences between temperatures, or their uncertainties (e.g. “The output of the heat exchanger is hotter by 40 degrees Celsius” and “Our standard uncertainty is ±3°C”). Because of this dual usage, one must not rely upon the unit name or its symbol to denote that a quantity is a temperature interval; it must be clear through context or explicit statement that the quantity is an interval.

Fahrenheit Scale

How did the Fahrenheit temperature scale come into existence? The first mercury thermometer was invented by German scientist Daniel Fahrenheit in 1714. His scale divides the freezing and boiling points of water into 180 degrees, with 32 degrees as water’s freezing point, and 212 as its boiling point.

On Fahrenheit’s scale, zero degrees was determined as the temperature of a temperature-stable brine solution of ice, water, and ammonium chloride. He based the scale on the average temperature of the human body, which he originally calculated at 100 degrees. (As noted, it’s since been adjusted to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Fahrenheit was the standard unit of measure in most countries until the 1960s and 1970s when it was replaced with the Celsius scale in a widespread conversion to the more useful metric system. In addition to the United States and its territories, Fahrenheit is still used in the Bahamas, Belize, and the Cayman Islands for most temperature measurements.

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR COMPARISONCELSIUSFAHRENHEIT
Proposed byAnders Celsius in mid-1700.Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724.
Abbreviate asDegree C (°C).Degree F (°F).
Absolute zero-273.15°C.-459.67°F.
Average human body temperature37.0°C.98.6°F.
The boiling point concerning water99.9839 or 100°C .211.97102 or 212°F.
The melting point regarding ice (water)0°C.32°F.
Accepted inWidely accepted method for measuring temperature, though not in use in the countries which uses Kelvin as their measurement tool.The United States and some of its territories uses this system.
Conversion FormulaCelsius to Fahrenheit: °C * 1.8 + 32 = °FFahrenheit to Celsius: (°F – 32) / 1.8 = °C

The Conversion Process

The formula for converting a measurement in Celsius to Fahrenheit is:

F = 1.8 + 32

where F is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and C is the temperature in degrees Celsius.

The formula may also be written as:

F = 9/5 + 32It is easy to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit by following these two steps:

  1. Multiply your Celsius measurement by 1.8.
  2. Add 32 to the result.

The final answer will be the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Note: If you are doing temperature conversions for a homework problem, take care to report the converted value using the same number of significant digits as the original number.

Example

Imagine, for example, that while traveling in Europe you come down with an illness. You only have access to a thermometer with Celsius measurements, which tells you that your body temperature is 37 degrees. You want to convert this measurement to Fahrenheit.

To do this, plug the temperature measurement into the equation:

F = 1.8 C + 32
F = (1.8)(37) + 32
F = 66.6 + 32
F = 98.6

The original value, 37 degrees Celsius, has two significant digits, so the Fahrenheit temperature should be reported as 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

Another example, to convert 26°C to °F (the temperature of a warm day):

 °F = (°C × 1.8) + 32

 °F = (26 × 1.8) + 32

°F = (46.8) + 32

°F = 78.8° F

Conversion Shortcut

You often don’t need an exact conversion. If you’re traveling to Europe, for example, and you know the temperature is 74 F, you might want to know the approximate temperature in Celsius. The website Lifehacker offers this tip on making an approximate conversion:

To convert from 22 C to Fahrenheit, multiply by two and add 30. So:

  • 22 C x 2 = 44
  • 44 + 30 = 74 C

Quick Conversion Table

Sometimes it’s good to just look up important temperatures, like body temperature, the freezing point and boiling point of water, etc. Here are some common important temperatures, in both Celsius (the metric scale) and Fahrenheit (the US temperature scale):

Common Temperatures in F and C
°C°FDescription
-40-40This is where Celsius equals Fahrenheit. It’s the temperature of an extremely cold day.
−180An average cold winter day.
032The freezing point of water.
1050A cool day.
2170A typical room temperature.
3086A hot day.
3798.6Body temperature.
40104Bath water temperature.
100212Boiling point of water at sea level.
180356Baking temperature in an oven.

Bold temperatures are exact values. Other temperatures are close but rounded to the nearest degree.

Conclusion

Calculate things such as temperature conversion and much more with ease when you learn how to convert celsius to fahrenheit.

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