temperature units

temperature difference

Temperature is a physical quantity related to the average kinetic energy of the particles that make up an object or system. The higher the kinetic energy, the higher the temperature. We also refer to temperature as our sensory experience of our own body and the external environment, for example when we touch objects or feel the air. However, depending on the context where it is used, there are different types of temperature units.

In this article we are going to talk about the different types of temperature units, their characteristics, many and their importance.

Temperature scales and units

temperature measurement

There are different types of scales to measure temperature. The most common are:

  • Celsius temperature scale. Also known as the "centigrade scale" and is the most widely used. On this scale, the freezing point of water is equal to 0 °C (zero degrees Celsius) and the boiling point is 100 °C.
  • Fahrenheit scale. This is the measure used in most English-speaking countries. On this scale, water has a freezing point of 32°F (thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit) and a boiling point of 212°F.
  • Kelvin scale. It is a measurement method commonly used in science, and “absolute zero” is set as the zero point, that is, the object does not emit heat, which is equivalent to -273,15 °C (Celsius).
  • Rankine scale. It is a commonly used measurement of thermodynamic temperature in the United States and is defined as the measure of degrees Fahrenheit above absolute zero, so there are no negative or lower values.

How is the temperature measured?

measure of temperature units

  • Temperature is measured by temperature scale, that is, different units represent temperatures on different scales. For this, a device called a "thermometer" is used, which is of various types depending on the phenomenon to be measured, such as:
  • expansion and contraction. Thermometers exist to measure gases (gas constant pressure thermometers), liquids (mercury thermometers), and solids (liquid or bimetallic cylinder thermometers), which are elements that expand at high temperatures or contract at low temperatures.
  • change in resistance. The resistance changes according to the temperature they acquire. For measurement, resistance thermometers are used, such as sensors (based on a resistance capable of converting an electrical change into a change in temperature) and pyroelectrics (generating a driving force).
  • Thermal radiation thermometer. Radiation phenomena emitted by the industrial sector can be measured by temperature sensors such as infrared pyrometers (to measure very low refrigeration temperatures) and optical pyrometers (to measure high temperatures in furnaces and molten metals).
  • thermoelectric potential. The combination of two different metals affected by different temperatures relative to each other creates an electromotive force, which is converted to electrical potential and is measured in volts.

Measurement of temperature units

temperature units

When we talk about temperature, we are talking about a certain amount of heat absorbed or released by the body. It is important not to confuse temperature with heat. Heat is a form of energy in transportation. The body or system never possesses heat, it absorbs or gives it up. Instead, it has a temperature associated with that heat flow.

From the point of view of physics, the heat transferred to a system or body produces molecular activity, the agitation (or movement) of the molecules. When we measure temperature, we measure motion that we sensorily perceive as heat but is actually kinetic energy.

temperature measurement It is essential in many fields of science, technology, industry and medicine.. In industry, for example, temperature measurement is essential in manufacturing processes, in which it is necessary to control the temperature of materials and products to ensure quality production. Measurements of the temperature units are also made in the preservation of food and medicines, since it can affect the quality and safety of the products.

In medicine, It is an important tool for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. A fever is a sign that the body is fighting an infection or other illness. Measuring body temperature can help determine if a person has a fever and therefore needs medical treatment.

Measuring temperature is something very normal in the scientific and research field. In physics, temperature is used to measure the thermal energy of materials, which can have implications for electrical conductivity, viscosity, and other aspects of materials behavior. In astronomy, measuring the temperature of celestial bodies can help scientists better understand the composition and evolution of objects in space.

temperature types

The temperature is divided into:

  • Dry temperature. It is the temperature of the air without taking into account its movement or percentage of humidity. It is measured with a white mercury thermometer to prevent it from absorbing radiation. In fact, it is the temperature that we measure with a mercury thermometer.
  • radiant temperature. Measures the heat emitted by objects, including solar radiation. So the radiant temperature will vary depending on whether you are shooting in the sun or in the shade.
  • humid temperature. To measure this temperature, the sphere of the thermometer is wrapped in moist cotton. Therefore, if the environmental humidity is high, the dry and humid temperatures will be the same, but the lower the relative humidity between the environment and the bulb, the lower the humid temperature.

Factors that modify the temperature

Altitude

Altitude is one of the factors that modify the temperature. The standard deviation is that the temperature drops 6,5°C per kilometer, which is 1°C for every 154 meters.. This is due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure with altitude, which means a lower concentration of heat-trapping air particles. However, it is important to note that this temperature change also depends on other factors such as sunlight, wind, and humidity.

Latitude

The higher the latitude, the lower the temperature. Latitude is the angular distance from a point on the Earth's surface to the 0 degree parallel (the equator). Since it is an angular distance, it is measured in degrees.

The higher the latitude, that is, the greater the distance to the equator, the lower the temperature. This is because at the equator, the Earth's surface receives the sun's rays perpendicularly, while at the poles (maximum latitudes), the rays arrive tangentially, for a shorter period of time. For this reason, near the equator, the climate warms while ice accumulates at the poles.

Continentality

Another factor that affects temperature is the distance to the ocean, known as continentality. The air closest to the ocean is more humid, so it can maintain a stable temperature for longer. Conversely, air further from the ocean is drier, so the temperature difference between day and night or light and shade is greater. Therefore, there can be temperature ranges of twenty degrees or more in desert regions.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about temperature units and their uses.


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