The Fahrenheit temperature scale is named after the German physicist and scientific instrument maker Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit (1686-1736). His temperature scale fixes the ice point of water at 32 degrees, and the steam point at 212 degrees (i.e. a fundamental interval of 180 Degrees). These particular limits from the fact that Fahrenheit did not use the ice and steam points to fix his scale but instead chose:
which he called 0 and 360 Degress respectively. It so happened that on this scale the ice point is equivalent to 32 Degrees, and the steam point 212 Degrees.
The Fahrenheit scale is still popular in some non-scientific circles especially in the UK and USA.
Gabriel Fahrenheit studied under the Dutch mathematician Gravesande and eventually settled in Amsterdam. He was also a friend of Newton. Amongst other things he also invented an areometer, and is responsible for the substitution of mercury instead alcohol in thermometers.
Created and maintained by Frans Coenen. Last updated 05 August 2003