there's more precision in fahreinheit, why do others keep using celsius?

[Miramonti]

Cold is cold.

 

[BladeVenom]

Kelvin is the best. It makes far more sense to make 0 the starting point.

 

[Molondo]

Who cares.

 

[Arcadio]

Celsius is NEAR 0 for freezing water (even in ideal lab conditions, it isn't exactly 0°C), and is rarely at 100 for boiling water (it is often several degress off due to air pressure variations). And the temperature for both depends a lot on the number of nucleation points available (water will stay liquid far below 0°C if there are no nucleation points). Plus using water for your calibration is arbitrary anyways. Why not ethanol or any other common chemical?

The vast majority of people wouldn't even understand what you are talking about. Let them use water (the most common liquid on Earth) as their standard. Those technicalities are useless for most purposes.

In fact, that's exactly the reason why Celsius is so widely used: it's simple.

Just like the rest of the metric system.

 

[SunnyD]

The vast majority of people wouldn't even understand what you are talking about. Let them use water (the most common liquid on Earth) as their standard. Those technicalities are useless for most purposes.

In fact, that's exactly the reason why Celsius is so widely used: it's simple.

Just like the rest of the metric system.

Tell that to most of Denver, amongst other places.

What, pray tell, isn't simple about 32F and 212F? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 12" = 1', 3' = 1yd, 1760yds = 1mi? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 16oz. = 1lb? Or 2000lbs = 1 short ton? It's no less simple than metric. Metric is for the arithmetically challenged. If you don't like it, move to Canukistan.

 

[Arcadio]

Tell that to most of Denver, amongst other places.

What, pray tell, isn't simple about 32F and 212F? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 12" = 1', 3' = 1yd, 1760yds = 1mi? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 16oz. = 1lb? Or 2000lbs = 1 short ton? It's no less simple than metric. Metric is for the arithmetically challenged. If you don't like it, move to Canukistan.

You are seriously suffering from a case of denial if you think the American system is easier to use than the metric system. Just because you're very familiar with it doesn't make it simpler.

What could be simpler than

1 cm = 10 mm
1 m = 100 cm
1 km = 1000 m

Or it could be the case that you think like some Americans I know: that just because Americans use it, it is automatically better.

 

[Cogman]

Tell that to most of Denver, amongst other places.

What, pray tell, isn't simple about 32F and 212F? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 12" = 1', 3' = 1yd, 1760yds = 1mi? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 16oz. = 1lb? Or 2000lbs = 1 short ton? It's no less simple than metric. Metric is for the arithmetically challenged. If you don't like it, move to Canukistan.

what is 13.543 yards in feet. What is 1.423 lbs in ounces. What is .03243 miles in inches. Oh, and do that all without a calculator.

That is why the metric system is preferred over the imperial system. A conversion in the metric system through two units is far easier to do and work with then it is with the imperial system.

That being said, I don't think there is really any reason to prefer Celsius over Fahrenheit.

 

[MoPHo]

Tell that to most of Denver, amongst other places.

What, pray tell, isn't simple about 32F and 212F? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 12" = 1', 3' = 1yd, 1760yds = 1mi? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 16oz. = 1lb? Or 2000lbs = 1 short ton? It's no less simple than metric. Metric is for the arithmetically challenged. If you don't like it, move to Canukistan.

Or Doctors. Or Scientists. Or Researchers.

 

[drinkmorejava]

what is 13.543 yards in feet. What is 1.423 lbs in ounces. What is .03243 miles in inches. Oh, and do that all without a calculator.

That is why the metric system is preferred over the imperial system. A conversion in the metric system through two units is far easier to do and work with then it is with the imperial system.

That being said, I don't think there is really any reason to prefer Celsius over Fahrenheit.

Yes there is, Celsius -> Kelvin

a=sqrt(gamma*R*T) gives you the speed of sound in m/s and everyone knows meters are better .
Of course, I suppose you could come up with some distorted R value that will let you use Rankine to get m/s

 

[KMFJD]

Tell that to most of Denver, amongst other places.

What, pray tell, isn't simple about 32F and 212F? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 12" = 1', 3' = 1yd, 1760yds = 1mi? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 16oz. = 1lb? Or 2000lbs = 1 short ton? It's no less simple than metric. Metric is for the arithmetically challenged. If you don't like it, move to Canukistan.

Spoken like a true osterich

 

[Mike Gayner]

Imperial measurements are arbitrary and useless. It boggles my mind that the US so strongly resists the metric system. WTF has an ounce got to do with a calorie? NOTHING.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Tell that to most of Denver, amongst other places.

What, pray tell, isn't simple about 32F and 212F? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 12" = 1', 3' = 1yd, 1760yds = 1mi? What, pray tell, isn't simple about 16oz. = 1lb? Or 2000lbs = 1 short ton? It's no less simple than metric. Metric is for the arithmetically challenged. If you don't like it, move to Canukistan.

I think you might be suffering from a mild case of stupid. The metric system makes sense. 1,000 litres of water = 1 cubic meter = 1 tonne in weight. As opposed to 264.172052 gallons = 33.8140227 fluid ouces = 2,204.62262 pounds.

 

[KeithTalent]

Fahrenheit is fucking retarded. No idea why the US is still stuck using that archaic system.

KT

 

[SunnyD]

I think you might be suffering from a mild case of stupid. The metric system makes sense. 1,000 litres of water = 1 cubic meter = 1 tonne in weight. As opposed to 264.172052 gallons = 33.8140227 fluid ouces = 2,204.62262 pounds.

I never said it didn't make sense. I said it's simple, as in metric. My point is there is no point in changing. You can't handle a few decimal places?

As for why the US doesn't change, I believe somewhere some time it has been said that the costs involved in changing would be prohibitive, particularly since it would eat into investors' pockets.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Everyone but the US uses the metric system. I have no idea how hot or cold 72F is. They don't talk about F or Psi or anything like that when you look at the weather here so it's completely useless to us. Just like I have no idea how long a mile or a yard is.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yes, you can edit titles. You can even do it from the main OT page. Click in the open space to the right of your thread title.

 

[Cogman]

Yes there is, Celsius -> Kelvin

a=sqrt(gamma*R*T) gives you the speed of sound in m/s and everyone knows meters are better .
Of course, I suppose you could come up with some distorted R value that will let you use Rankine to get m/s

R was determined based on Celsius, Kelvin's Units were based on Celsius units because it was metric. IMO Celsius is just about as arbitrary as Fahrenheit. Changing to a different temperature measurement system would only make sense if there were sub temperature units that didn't use 10 (ie 6 blorks to a Fahrenheit)

Kelvin could have just as easily been based on Fahrenheit, but some board of standards setters thought it was wiser to try and kill off everything related to the imperial system for reason I don't quite understand.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Fahrenheit is fucking retarded. No idea why the US is still stuck using that archaic system.

KT

Celsius is NEAR 0 for freezing water (even in ideal lab conditions, it isn't exactly 0°C), and is rarely at 100 for boiling water (it is often several degress off due to air pressure variations). And the temperature for both depends a lot on the number of nucleation points available (water will stay liquid far below 0°C if there are no nucleation points). Plus using water for your calibration is arbitrary anyways. Why not ethanol or any other common chemical?

Fahrenheit at least has the advantages of:
1: being weather related (most of the world is between 0°F and 100°F and extremes on either side of that range are a health hazzard).
2: being nicely tuned to heath. A temperature above 100°F is a fever. Why would you want to memorize 38°C when 100°F is easier? Note: using human health is just as arbitrary as using water.
3: matching the precision of human feeling. We can tell the difference between temperatures that are roughly 1°F apart. A 1°F change in the outside temperature or the thermostat is just enough to notice. Like the OP said, 1°C is just too coarse of a temperature range and you are forced to go with decimals.

But, in the end both suck. Neither have an absolute zero at 0. Rankine is the best of all worlds. A true zero and temperature intervals that match human touch.

for day to day use, F makes MUCH more sense than C.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

whaaat? serious.

0= freezing
20=room temp
100= boiling

what so confusing. Its no more or less precise than *F. If you need more precision you can go decimal, "the temp is just above freezing at 0.5*C". Most weather in *C is described with rounded up or down numbers.

when's the last time someone told you the temperature outside was 22.22C (72F).

????? never

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Yes, you can edit titles. You can even do it from the main OT page. Click in the open space to the right of your thread title.

ahhh, it's under "go advanced".
thx.

 

[Cogman]

Everyone but the US uses the metric system. I have no idea how hot or cold 72F is. They don't talk about F or Psi or anything like that when you look at the weather here so it's completely useless to us. Just like I have no idea how long a mile or a yard is.

Not true, England is somewhere in a state of flux. Some of their stuff is in the metric system, but other stuff is in the imperial system. Driving on the road? Things are in mph, getting gas? It is measured in liters, Buying milk? It is measured in gallons, and liters.

Many people still use Feet and inchs. It is sort of messed up really.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

whaaat? serious.

0= freezing
20=room temp
100= boiling

what so confusing. Its no more or less precise than *F. If you need more precision you can go decimal, "the temp is just above freezing at 0.5*C". Most weather in *C is described with rounded up or down numbers.

????? never

yes, because i need to talk about boiling water temps on a daily basis.

why say 22.2222222 degrees C when i can do it with 72F?

 

[KeithTalent]

for day to day use, F makes MUCH more sense than C.

Not at all.

I guess in the end it is more about what we have grown up with, but just looking at how Celsius/Centigrade system works, it makes much more sense.

KT

 

[Mike Gayner]

R was determined based on Celsius, Kelvin's Units were based on Celsius units because it was metric. IMO Celsius is just about as arbitrary as Fahrenheit. Changing to a different temperature measurement system would only make sense if there were sub temperature units that didn't use 10 (ie 6 blorks to a Fahrenheit)

RE the bolded statement - no, Fahrenheit is arbitrary, Celsius is not. I think you might need to consult a dictionary on the meaning of arbitrary.

Fahrenheit at least has the advantages of:
1: being weather related (most of the world is between 0°F and 100°F and extremes on either side of that range are a health hazzard).
2: being nicely tuned to heath. A temperature above 100°F is a fever. Why would you want to memorize 38°C when 100°F is easier? Note: using human health is just as arbitrary as using water.
3: matching the precision of human feeling. We can tell the difference between temperatures that are roughly 1°F apart. A 1°F change in the outside temperature or the thermostat is just enough to notice. Like the OP said, 1°C is just too coarse of a temperature range and you are forced to go with decimals.

1. How is it weather related? The USA is the only nation in the world (AFAIK) using Fahrenheit for weather measurements. Most weather is between -50c and 50c, so it's no less simple than Fahrenheit.

2. Your 100F measurement is not the definition of a fever - you've just decided to make 100F your threshold for simplicity.

3. This is total bullshit. You just made this up for the hell of it.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

yes, because i need to talk about boiling water temps on a daily basis.

why say 22.2222222 degrees C when i can do it with 72F?

Nobody says that. who the eff says that. Round it out. 22. there. done. simple. 22 degrees. never have i heard that room temperature is 22.222222*C.