eli5!Why do we have different temperature measurement?

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eli5!Why do we have different temperature measurement?

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If you are talking about Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin these were developed at different times and became popular at in different parts of the world and for different uses. At first we did not have a temperature scale. But this was something scientists needed as they had to measure things constantly. A big problem here is how to make a scale which allows you to calibrate your instruments. With weights and lengths you can make a calibrated physical objects that you ship to other scientists which they can calibrate their instruments by. But you can not ship a temperature.

At first Fahrenheit came up with two fairly consistent temperatures to use. He used the coldest thing he could measure which was the freezing point of a brine solution and the hottest consistent temperature he could measure which was his body temperature. The large span meant that you could calibrate instruments over a wide range of temperatures. And the Fahrenheit scale spread among scientists and through meteorologists into the general population.

Then came Celsius, another scientist. At this point the Fahrenheit scale was not the only temperature scale in use and they all had some problems. For Fahrenheit it was hard to get the brine solution cold enough that it froze and body temperatures are hard to measure and varies too much. The temperature scale named after Celsius was simpler but more accurate and easier to use as it used the freezing point and boiling point of pure water. This is conditions which are very easy to replicate in any lab, or indeed any kitchen for that matter. So it was much easier for scientists to calibrate their instruments. This soon became the standard way to calibrate instruments for all scientists. However the Fahrenheit scale were still widespread, although it is almost gone from common use now.

The Kelvin scale on the other hand was invented because the freezing point of water is rather arbitrary from a mathematical point of view. All the laws of physics that dealt with temperature ended up with this same constant to account for the Celsius scale. So to make the math easier the scientists just removed this constant and came up with the Kelvin scale. Its main advantage is that it is easier to use in physics calculations. But since most people experience temperatures closer to room temperature it is not expected to become very much used outside of the scientific communities.

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