Why Was Fahrenheit Changed to Celsius: Understanding the Shift

The use of temperature scales is a critical aspect of how we measure and understand the world around us. Historically, the United States has predominantly used the Fahrenheit scale alongside others, but today, the adoption of the Celsius scale is commonplace worldwide, with the exception of a few notable cases. This article delves into the reasons behind the shift from Fahrenheit to Celsius, particularly in the United States, and explores the significance of this change.

The Historical Context of Temperature Scales

Two key temperature scales emerged in the early modern era: the Fahrenheit scale and the Celsius scale. Both scales have unique origins and purposes, reflecting different cultural and scientific contexts.

The Fahrenheit Scale

The Fahrenheit scale, named after its creator, Gabriel Fahrenheit, was proposed in 1724. Fahrenheit chose the points of zero and 100 based on empirically observed phenomena, rather than the physical properties of substances. His initial scale was defined such that freezing water was 32°F and the body temperature was 96°F. Over time, this scale was slightly adjusted so that the freezing point of water is exactly 32°F and the boiling point is exactly 212°F at standard atmospheric pressure.

The Celsius Scale

The Celsius scale, also known as the centigrade scale, was developed by Anders Celsius in 1742. Celsius initially created a scale where 0 was the boiling point and 100 the freezing point of water. However, later it was inverted, and the scale became known as the Celsius scale. This scale provides a more intuitive understanding of temperature changes and aligns better with the metric system.

The Metrication Plan and the Shift to Celsius

When the United States adopted the metric system (SI units) in the 1970s as part of the metrication plan, there was an effort to switch from Fahrenheit to Celsius for temperature measurements. However, this effort foundered in the 1980s, leading to a continued use of Fahrenheit in many sectors. Despite this, the United States remains one of the few countries that predominantly uses Fahrenheit for everyday measurements, alongside a few others.

Why the Resistance to Change?

As the article has highlighted, there are several reasons why the US has not fully adopted the Celsius scale:

Workplace Tradition: In many industries, particularly those with a long history of using Fahrenheit, there is a strong reliance on the existing scale. Changing this would necessitate significant adjustments in workplace settings and could be costly and disruptive. Prolonged Usage: Due to the sheer number of people (320 million) and the longevity of Fahrenheit's use, there is a significant cultural and practical inertia against changing the scale. Chemical and Scientific Uses: In scientific and chemical applications, the Kelvin and Rankine scales are more suitable and provide more precise measurements.

The Argument Against Simple Change

There is a common misconception that the Fahrenheit scale is inferior to Celsius. However, the article argues that while there are advantages to the metric system overall, the argument against changing Fahrenheit is not simply based on the superiority of one scale over the other. Convenience and tradition play a significant role, and the difficulty of altering such a deeply ingrained system cannot be underestimated.

Conclusion

The shift from Fahrenheit to Celsius is a complex issue with strong roots in cultural and practical factors. The United States, along with a few other countries, continues to use the Fahrenheit scale in everyday life due to historical and practical reasons. While the rest of the world has largely moved to the Celsius scale, it serves as a reminder of the challenges and considerations associated with changing fundamental systems of measurement.