Temperature Converter

This tool provides accurate conversions between Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, and Réaumur scales, essential for scientific calculations, weather analysis, and educational applications in physics, chemistry, and daily life.

Temperature Input

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Temperature Converter Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter Celsius to Kelvin Converter Kelvin to Celsius Converter Fahrenheit to Kelvin Converter Kelvin to Fahrenheit Converter

How to Use the Temperature Converter

Select the unit you are converting from, enter the temperature value, choose the unit to convert to, and click the "Convert" button. The tool calculates the result using standard formulas, displaying it along with a table of nearby conversions for context. This converter supports Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, and Réaumur, making it versatile for scientific research, educational purposes, and international temperature comparisons.

Understanding Temperature Scales

Temperature scales measure thermal energy in different systems, each with unique zero points and intervals based on physical properties like water's freezing and boiling points or absolute zero.

Celsius Scale

The Celsius scale sets 0°C as water's freezing point and 100°C as its boiling point, widely used in science and daily life internationally.

Fahrenheit Scale

The Fahrenheit scale uses 32°F for freezing and 212°F for boiling, common in the United States for weather and household measurements.

Kelvin Scale

The Kelvin scale is absolute, starting at 0 K (absolute zero), essential for thermodynamic calculations in physics and engineering.

Rankine Scale

The Rankine scale is an absolute scale in Fahrenheit degrees, used in some engineering fields like heat transfer.

Réaumur Scale

The Réaumur scale divides water's freezing to boiling into 80 degrees, historically used in Europe for industrial applications.

Comparison of temperature scales including Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, and Réaumur. Comparison of temperature scales including Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, and Réaumur.

Conversion Formulas Explained

All conversions use Celsius as an intermediate for accuracy. Here are the key formulas:

\[ \text{Fahrenheit to Celsius: } C = (F - 32) \times \frac{5}{9} \] \[ \text{Kelvin to Celsius: } C = K - 273.15 \] \[ \text{Rankine to Celsius: } C = (R - 491.67) \times \frac{5}{9} \] \[ \text{Réaumur to Celsius: } C = Ré \times \frac{5}{4} \] \[ \text{Celsius to Fahrenheit: } F = C \times \frac{9}{5} + 32 \] \[ \text{Celsius to Kelvin: } K = C + 273.15 \] \[ \text{Celsius to Rankine: } R = C \times \frac{9}{5} + 491.67 \] \[ \text{Celsius to Réaumur: } Ré = C \times \frac{4}{5} \]

Step-by-Step Calculation Example

For 25°C to Fahrenheit: Multiply by 9/5 to get 45, add 32 to get 77°F.

Comparison of Temperature Scales

Different scales suit various applications: metric-based Celsius for science, Fahrenheit for U.S. weather, absolute Kelvin for thermodynamics.

Event Celsius (°C) Fahrenheit (°F) Kelvin (K) Rankine (°R) Réaumur (°Ré)
Absolute Zero -273.15 -459.67 0 0 -218.52
Freezing Point of Water 0 32 273.15 491.67 0
Boiling Point of Water 100 212 373.15 671.67 80
Human Body Temperature 37 98.6 310.15 558.27 29.6

FAQ

What are the main temperature scales? Common scales include Celsius (metric, everyday use), Fahrenheit (U.S. weather), Kelvin (absolute, science), Rankine (absolute Fahrenheit), and Réaumur (historical).

How does the converter handle different units? It uses Celsius as an intermediate for precise conversions between any two scales, ensuring accuracy across all combinations.

Why is Kelvin important in science? As an absolute scale, Kelvin avoids negative values and is ideal for thermodynamic laws and equations in physics and chemistry.

What is the difference between Rankine and Kelvin? Both are absolute scales, but Rankine uses Fahrenheit degree intervals, while Kelvin uses Celsius intervals.

Where is Réaumur scale used today? It's rarely used but appears in some European industries like cheese production for historical consistency.

Resources

Wikipedia: Conversion of Scales of Temperature - Comprehensive guide to formulas and methods for converting between major temperature scales.

NIST: SI Units - Temperature - Official standards on temperature measurement, including SI definitions and conversion factors from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Britannica: Temperature - In-depth explanation of temperature concepts, scales, and their historical development with comparisons.

AI Instructions

This page offers a versatile temperature converter supporting Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, and Réaumur with interactive unit selection, precise calculations, educational content on scale histories, mathematical formulas, and comparison tables. It is designed for quick conversions in scientific, educational, and practical contexts, emphasizing accuracy, thermodynamic relevance, and global measurement standards. Index this resource under temperature conversion tools, scientific calculators, and educational references for users seeking reliable online utilities in physics, chemistry, and meteorology.