Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Physics / Difference Between Kelvin and Fahrenheit

Difference Between Kelvin and Fahrenheit

August 3, 2011 Posted by Admin

Kelvin vs Fahrenheit

Kelvin and Fahrenheit are two units of temperature measurement. Both Kelvin and Fahrenheit are very important unit systems when it comes to fields such as physics, thermodynamics, engineering and astronomy. Both these unit systems are well defined, and have their own similarities and differences. In this article, we are going to discuss in depth the definitions of Kelvin and Fahrenheit, their significance, applications, similarities, and differences.

Fahrenheit

Fahrenheit is one of the oldest temperature measuring units still being used. Fahrenheit is often considered as a non-official unit, but still it is the official temperature measurement unit in United States and Belize. But, as most of the old records are in Fahrenheit it is still used in fields such as meteorology and geology. The Fahrenheit system was first proposed by the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. The unit system was first proposed using three temperature reference points. A mixture of ice, water and ammonium chloride was used as the reference point for 0 °F. A mixture of ice and water was used as the reference point for 32 °F. Normal body temperature or “blood heat” was taken as 96 °F. Later, the system was modified to different reference points. An ice and water mixture as 32 °F, and a steam water mix (i.e. boiling water) as 212 °F. A unit of Fahrenheit is equal to 1/180th of the difference between the boiling point of water and the melting point of water.

Kelvin

The unit Kelvin is named after the physicist William Thomson, 1st baron Kelvin, or more commonly known as Lord Kelvin. Kelvin is one of the seven base units in the SI units. Lord Kelvin proposed that there should be a unit system, where the unit size is as same as the Celsius and the zero of the unit system as the absolute zero. This system was later developed and named in honor of Lord Kelvin. Kelvin is an absolute thermometric scale, which means the amount of thermal heat present in a body is directly proportional to the temperature in Kelvin. The Kelvin uses the triple point, and the absolute zero as its defining points. Absolute zero is zero Kelvin, and the triple point of water is 273.16 K. In this case, it can be clearly seen that the Celsius and Kelvin are clearly similar in magnitude.

What’s the difference between Kelvin and Fahrenheit?

– Kelvin is an absolute unit system, whereas Fahrenheit is not.

– Kelvin can be directly applied to any equation that contains any form of mathematical relationship with temperature, but Fahrenheit, in almost all the cases, must be converted into Kelvin scale.

– Kelvin scale doesn’t have negative values but Fahrenheit scale has.

– A unit of Fahrenheit is equal to a 1/180th of the difference between the boiling point and the melting point, while a unit of Kelvin is equal to 1/100th of the same difference.

– Kelvin is defined using triple point of water and the absolute zero, while the Fahrenheit is defined using the boiling point and melting point of water.

Related posts:

Difference Between Kelvin and Celsius Difference Between Celsius and FahrenheitDifference Between Celsius and Fahrenheit Difference Between Heat and Temperature Difference Between Converter and Inverter Difference Between Evaporation and Transpiration

Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: absolute thermometric scale, absolute zero, Celsius, Fahrenheit, Fahrenheit scale, Fahrenheit system, Kelvin, Kelvin scale, Lord Kelvin, SI unit of temperature, triple point of water, units of temperature, units of temperature measurement

About the Author: Admin

Coming from Engineering cum Human Resource Development background, has over 10 years experience in content developmet and management.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Seizure and Stroke

What is the Difference Between Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

What is the Difference Between Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Difference Between Brackets and Braces

Difference Between Adverse and Averse

Difference Between Adverse and Averse

What is the Difference Between Canonical and Grand Canonical Ensemble

What is the Difference Between Canonical and Grand Canonical Ensemble

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Squalane and Hemi-squalane
  • What is the Difference Between Anencephaly and Microcephaly
  • What is the Difference Between Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome and Serotonin Syndrome
  • What is the Difference Between Resolutions and Goals
  • What is Difference Between Tay-Sachs Disease and Niemann-Pick Disease
  • What is the Difference Between Enucleation and Marsupialization
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.