Celsius (°C)
Celsius is a temperature scale where 0 °C is the freezing point and 100 °C is the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure. It is defined by the International System of Units (SI) and related to the Kelvin scale by the formula °C = K − 273.15 [cgpm-resolutions].
Origin
The Celsius scale was developed by Anders Celsius in 1742. It became internationally accepted and officially incorporated into the SI temperature scales by the CGPM in 1948 for scientific and everyday temperature measurement [cgpm-resolutions].
Worldwide Use
Celsius is the standard temperature unit for most countries worldwide, including Canada, Europe, and Australia. It is used in weather forecasts, scientific research, and industrial processes as endorsed by ISO and BIPM [bipm-si-brochure].
Common References
- Water freezes at 0 °C
- Normal human body temperature is approximately 37 °C
- Water boils at 100 °C at sea level
- Room temperature is typically around 20 to 22 °C