Hi, I’m Craig, and today we’re diving into a big question: “Why do Americans use Fahrenheit?” While some people prefer Celsius, we’re focusing on Fahrenheit today. Let’s explore the history and reasons behind this choice!
The Fahrenheit scale was created by a German scientist named Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724. He initially set 0° as the temperature of ice-cold salt water, 32° as the freezing point of water, and 96° as the average human body temperature. Although the scale has changed a bit over time, it was widely used in English-speaking countries for many years.
On the other hand, the Celsius scale was developed in 1744 by a Swedish astronomer named Anders Celsius. He originally set 0° as the boiling point of water and 100° as the freezing point. However, the modern Celsius scale is the opposite, with 0° as the freezing point and 100° as the boiling point of water.
Most English-speaking countries used Fahrenheit until around the 1960s. Then, they began switching to Celsius and the metric system because it was more logical and easier to use. However, there was some hesitation, especially when it came to weather reporting. For example, “-6°C sounds colder than 21°F, and 94°F sounds hotter than 34°C.” People often like to be impressed by their weather!
The United States has attempted to switch to the metric system several times. In 1875, the U.S. joined the Metre Convention, a treaty that aimed to standardize the metric system across 17 nations. This included measurements of mass, length, and eventually temperature.
Despite these efforts, the U.S. never fully transitioned to the metric system. In 1975, Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, which stated that the metric system was the preferred system for U.S. trade and commerce. The United States Metric Board (USMB) was established to help coordinate this transition. However, the public wasn’t fully convinced, and the Board lacked the power to enforce the change. The USMB was eventually shut down in 1982 during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
Today, many people in the U.S. still prefer Fahrenheit, and the transition to metric has been slow. Interestingly, Fahrenheit is still used in scientific journals and engineering because its smaller degrees allow for greater precision without needing decimals.
Thanks for joining me on this exploration of Fahrenheit and Celsius. If you have any big questions of your own, feel free to share them. See you next time!
Try converting temperatures between Fahrenheit and Celsius. I’ll give you a list of temperatures in Fahrenheit, and you convert them to Celsius using the formula: C = (F - 32) × 5/9. Then, switch it up and convert Celsius to Fahrenheit using: F = C × 9/5 + 32. Let’s see how quickly you can do it!
Create a timeline that highlights the key events in the history of the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales. Include important dates, such as when each scale was developed and significant moments in the U.S. metrication efforts. Use drawings or digital tools to make your timeline visually appealing.
Find a weather report from a country using Celsius and one from the U.S. using Fahrenheit. Compare the temperatures and discuss how they might feel different to someone used to one scale over the other. Share your findings with the class and discuss why people might prefer one scale over the other.
Participate in a class debate on whether the U.S. should switch to Celsius or stick with Fahrenheit. Prepare arguments for both sides, considering aspects like ease of use, historical significance, and public opinion. After the debate, reflect on which arguments were most convincing to you.
Conduct an experiment to measure the temperature of various substances (like water, air, and ice) using both Fahrenheit and Celsius thermometers. Record your findings and discuss any differences you notice. This hands-on activity will help you understand how each scale measures temperature.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Craig. I’m of average height, and this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to answer Martin Prince’s big question: “Why do Americans use Fahrenheit?” I know some of you prefer Celsius, so today I’m focusing on Fahrenheit.
Let’s get started! First, I’ll give a little history of Fahrenheit and Celsius. The Fahrenheit scale was developed by a German man named Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724. It’s believed that he originally set 0° as the temperature of ice-cold salt water, 32° as ice water, and 96° as body temperature. Over time, the scale shifted a bit, but it was used in English-speaking countries for centuries.
The Celsius scale was developed in 1744 and is named after Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius, who created a scale where 0° was the boiling point of water and 100° was the freezing point. The modern Celsius scale is the opposite of that.
In most English-speaking countries, Fahrenheit was used until about the 1960s. Then, all those places (except the U.S.) began to switch to Celsius and the metric system. Many had been trying to switch to the metric system since the 1800s because it made more sense. However, there was some hesitation, especially regarding weather reporting. A 2006 article by the London newspaper The Times noted that “-6°C sounds colder than 21°F, and 94°F sounds more impressive than 34°C.” People like to be impressed by their temperatures!
So why doesn’t the U.S. switch over? Well, we’ve tried. In 1875, the U.S. joined the Metre Convention, a treaty signed by 17 nations that developed a standardized metric system, starting with measurements of mass and length and eventually including temperature.
Over the next few decades, it seemed like the U.S. would definitely switch to metric, but that didn’t happen. The UK and Canada did switch in the sixties, so why didn’t we? In 1975, Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, which stated that the metric system was the preferred system of weights and measures for U.S. trade and commerce. It also mentioned that the government would coordinate and plan the increasing use of the metric system in the United States.
The United States Metric Board (USMB) was created soon after the Act was passed. However, the public still wasn’t convinced, and the Board didn’t have enough power to enforce the switch. Eventually, the USMB was shut down in 1982 during Ronald Reagan’s administration.
There are still many people in the U.S. who would like to switch to metric, but it has been a slow process, and many remain resistant. Interestingly, Fahrenheit still appears in scientific journals and engineering for one main reason: the degrees are smaller, allowing for greater precision before needing decimals.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, made with the help of all these wonderful contributors. If you have a Big Question of your own that you’d like answered, leave it in the comments. See you next week!
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This version removes informal language and maintains a more neutral tone while preserving the original content’s essence.
Fahrenheit – A scale for measuring temperature where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. – The United States primarily uses the Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature.
Celsius – A scale for measuring temperature where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees. – Most countries around the world use the Celsius scale for scientific measurements.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about the history of ancient civilizations helps us understand how modern societies developed.
Scientist – A person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of interest. – Marie Curie was a renowned scientist known for her groundbreaking work on radioactivity.
Temperature – A measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to a standard value. – The temperature dropped significantly overnight, causing frost to form on the ground.
Metric – A system of measurement based on meters, liters, and grams as units of length, capacity, and weight or mass. – Scientists prefer using the metric system because it is based on multiples of ten, making calculations easier.
System – A set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, in particular. – The solar system consists of the sun and the celestial bodies that orbit it, including planets and asteroids.
United – Joined together politically, for a common purpose, or by common feelings. – The United Nations was established to promote peace and cooperation among countries worldwide.
States – Distinct territorial bodies or political entities; often refers to countries or regions within a country. – The United States is made up of 50 states, each with its own government and laws.
Conversion – The process of changing or causing something to change from one form to another. – Scientists often need to perform a conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius when sharing temperature data internationally.
