Celsius

Definition

Celsius is a temperature scale that measures the degree of hotness or coldness of an object or environment. It is commonly used in scientific and everyday applications to quantify temperature and its changes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Celsius scale is based on the freezing point of water (0°C) and the boiling point of water (100°C) at standard atmospheric pressure.
2. The Celsius scale is directly related to the Kelvin scale, with 0°C being equal to 273.15 K.
3. The Celsius scale is widely used in scientific and everyday applications, particularly in countries that have adopted the metric system.
4. Temperature changes in Celsius are often denoted as ΔT, representing the difference in temperature between two points.
5. The specific heat capacity of a substance, measured in J/kg·°C, is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of the substance by one degree Celsius.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Celsius scale is defined and how it relates to the Kelvin scale.
  • The Celsius scale is defined by setting the freezing point of water at 0°C and the boiling point of water at 100°C, both at standard atmospheric pressure. The Celsius scale is directly related to the Kelvin scale, with 0°C being equal to 273.15 K. This means that a change of one degree Celsius is equivalent to a change of one degree Kelvin, but the Kelvin scale has its zero point set at absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature.
• Describe the role of the Celsius scale in the measurement of temperature change and heat capacity.
  • The Celsius scale is widely used to measure temperature changes, as it provides a convenient and intuitive way to quantify the degree of hotness or coldness of an object or environment. In the context of heat capacity, the Celsius scale is used to measure the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree. The specific heat capacity of a material, measured in J/kg·°C, represents the energy needed to increase the temperature of one kilogram of the substance by one degree Celsius.
• Analyze the importance of the Celsius scale in scientific and everyday applications, and explain how it relates to the concept of thermal expansion.
  • The Celsius scale is a fundamental unit of temperature measurement that is widely used in scientific and everyday applications, particularly in countries that have adopted the metric system. Its widespread use is due to its intuitive and easily understandable scale, as well as its direct relationship to the Kelvin scale, which is the primary unit of temperature in the International System of Units (SI). In the context of thermal expansion, the Celsius scale is used to quantify the increase in the size or volume of a material as its temperature increases, often measured in units of change in length or volume per degree Celsius. This relationship between temperature and thermal expansion is a crucial concept in various fields, such as engineering, materials science, and environmental studies.

Related terms

Temperature:

A physical quantity that measures the degree of hotness or coldness of an object or environment, typically measured in units such as Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin.

Heat Capacity:

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree, typically measured in Joules per degree Celsius (J/°C).

Thermal Expansion: The increase in the size or volume of a material as its temperature increases, often measured in units of change in length or volume per degree Celsius.