Celsius temperature scale definition of Celsius temperature scale in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Celsius temperature scale (sĕl`sēəs), temperature temperature, measure of the relative warmth or coolness of an object. Temperature is measured by means of a thermometer or other instrument having a scale calibrated in units called degrees. The size of a degree depends on the particular temperature scale being used.
..... Click the link for more information. scale according to which the temperature difference between the reference temperatures of the freezing and boiling points of water is divided into 100 degrees. The freezing point is taken as 0 degrees Celsius and the boiling point as 100 degrees Celsius. The Celsius scale is widely known as the centigrade scale because it is divided into 100 degrees. It is named for the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius Celsius, Anders (än`dərs sĕl`sēŭs), 1701–44, Swedish astronomer. While professor of astronomy at the Univ.
..... Click the link for more information. , who established the scale in 1742. William Thomson Kelvin used it as the basis of his absolute temperature scale, now known as the Kelvin temperature scale Kelvin temperature scale, a temperature scale having an absolute zero below which temperatures do not exist. Absolute zero , or 0°K;, is the temperature at which molecular energy is a minimum, and it corresponds to a temperature of −273.
..... Click the link for more information. , in 1848 (see also absolute zero absolute zero, the zero point of the ideal gas temperature scale, denoted by 0 degrees on the Kelvin and Rankine temperature scales, which is equivalent to −273.15°C; and −459.67°F;.
..... Click the link for more information. ). Temperatures on the Celsius scale can be converted to equivalent temperatures on the Fahrenheit temperature scale Fahrenheit temperature scale (fâr`ənhīt')
..... Click the link for more information. by multiplying the Celsius temperature by 9/5 and adding 32° to the result, according to the formula 9C/5+32=F.

Celsius temperature scale [′sel·se·əs ′tem·prə·chər ‚skāl]

(thermodynamics)

Temperature scale in which the temperature Θ_cin degrees Celsius (°C) is related to the temperatureT_kin kelvins by the formula Θ_c=T_k- 273.15; the freezing point of water at standard atmospheric pressure is very nearly 0°C and the corresponding boiling point is very nearly 100°C. Formerly known as centigrade temperature scale.