Temperature Scales and Measurements

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to temperature scales and measurements.

Thermometer

An instrument that measures temperature by providing a numerical value for a specific temperature.

Fahrenheit Scale

Temperature scale devised by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit where water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F.

Celsius Scale

Temperature scale named after Anders C. Celsius where water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C.

Kelvin Scale

Absolute temperature scale where absolute zero is 0 K and there are no negative temperature values.

Absolute Zero

Theoretical lowest possible temperature, calculated to be -273°C or -459°F.

Conversion Factor

A ratio that expresses how many of one unit are equal to another unit, used for converting between units.

Significant Figures

The digits in a number that carry meaningful information about its precision.

Decimal Bumping

A technique for converting units by moving the decimal point according to powers of 10 based on a metric chart.

SI Units

International System of Units, a decimal-based system of measurement for a variety of physical quantities.

Metric Prefixes

Symbols like kilo-, centi-, and milli- that indicate multiples or fractions of a unit, based on powers of ten.