Archaic Temperature Scales Calculator

About Archaic Temperature Scales

Modern Scales

• Celsius (1742): Anders Celsius - 0° = freezing, 100° = boiling (originally reversed!)
• Fahrenheit (1724): Daniel Fahrenheit - 32° = freezing, 212° = boiling
• Kelvin (1848): Lord Kelvin - Absolute scale starting at absolute zero (-273.15°C)

Archaic/Historical Scales

Réaumur (1730) - René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur

• 0° = water freezes, 80° = water boils
• Popular in Europe, especially France and Germany
• Used until early 20th century
• Still occasionally seen in Italian cheese-making and German brewing

Rømer (1701) - Ole Christensen Rømer

• 7.5° = water freezes, 60° = water boils
• First practical temperature scale
• Influenced Fahrenheit's work
• Used brine (salt water) as zero point

Delisle (1732) - Joseph-Nicolas Delisle

• 150° = water freezes, 0° = water boils (inverted!)
• Higher number = colder temperature
• Used in Russia for nearly 100 years
• Unique for counting down rather than up

Newton (1701) - Sir Isaac Newton

• 0° = water freezes, 33° = water boils
• Created by Isaac Newton himself!
• Based on linseed oil temperature calibration
• Never widely adopted but historically significant

Why So Many Scales?

Each scientist chose different reference points:

• Fahrenheit: Used human body temp and brine freezing
• Celsius: Water's freezing and boiling (simple!)
• Réaumur: 80° based on alcohol thermometer expansion
• Delisle: Inverted scale for easier mercury thermometers

Modern Usage

• Celsius: Worldwide standard (except USA)
• Fahrenheit: USA, some Caribbean nations
• Kelvin: Scientific standard for absolute measurements
• Others: Mostly obsolete, occasionally in historical contexts