Question E.1: Converting between Temperature Scales A sick child has a te...
Converting between Temperature Scales
A sick child has a temperature of 40.00 °C. What is the child’s temperature in (a) K and (b) °F?
(a) Begin by finding the equation that relates the quantity that is given (°C) and the quantity you are trying to find (K). Since this equation gives the temperature in K directly, substitute in the correct value for the temperature in °C and calculate the answer.
K = °C + 273.15
K = °C + 273.15
K = 40.00 + 273.15 = 313.15 K
(b) To convert from °C to °F, find the equation that relates these two quantities. Since this equation expresses °C in terms of °F, solve the equation for °F. Now substitute °C into the equation and calculate the answer.
Note: The number of digits reported in this answer follows significant figure conventions, covered later in this section.
°C=\frac{(°F – 32)}{1.8}
1.8(°C) = (°F – 32)
°F = 1.8 (°C) + 32
°F = 1.8 (°C) + 32
°F = 1.8 (40.00 °C) + 32 = 104.00 °F