Degrees Fahrenheit (°F)

What is a degree Fahrenheit?

The degree Fahrenheit (°F) is the unit of temperature used for everyday purposes in the United States and a few other countries. On this scale water freezes at 32 °F and boils at 212 °F, 180 degrees apart, so a Fahrenheit degree is 5/9 the size of a Celsius degree.

Supporters of Fahrenheit point out that its finer degrees and 0–100 range roughly cover the weather people experience, from very cold to very hot.

What degrees Fahrenheit are used for

• Weather, thermostats and cooking in the US
• Body temperature in the US (98.6 °F)
• Some industries such as US HVAC and aviation weather in the US

Degrees Fahrenheit in real life

• Water freezes at 32 °F and boils at 212 °F
• Normal body temperature is about 98.6 °F
• Comfortable room temperature is about 68–72 °F
• Ovens for baking are often set to 350 °F

History of the degree Fahrenheit

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit introduced the scale in 1724. He set 0 °F at the temperature of a freezing mixture of ice, water and ammonium chloride and 96 °F at human body temperature. The scale was later adjusted so that water boils at exactly 212 °F, which moved normal body temperature to about 98.6 °F.