Unit 3, Lesson 4

Though Chemistry includes three temperature scales, this lesson only touched on two: Celsius and Fahrenheit. Substances become hot or cold depending on how fast their molecules are moving. Keep in mind as a side note that fast-moving particles usually result in gas that expands to take up more space. Hence, "excited" particles make for hotter temperatures. Alternatively, however, some particles move sluggishly and tend to cause gases to compact, or contract, which means that they get smaller. Similar to the way that a person curls into a ball with a blanket when they're cold, the compacted molecules make for cooler temperatures. At that point, we get ice.

Hotness and coolness are measured in Fahrenheit and Celsius through the use of the term degrees. The two scales are drastically different from one another. One increment in Celsius accounts for an enormous jump in degrees Fahrenheit, which means that you could easily screw up a measurement if you don't pay attention!

A formula for converting Celsius from Fahrenheit is as follows:

F = 1.8 (C) + 32

OR

F = 9/5 (C) + 32

Problems:
1.) Explain how the height of a liquid can be used to measure temperature. As the temperature of a substance increases, the particles in that substance begin to move faster and faster, growing more "excited" if you will, and that causes the liquid, gas, whatever you might have, to expand. If in a container, the expanding substance will grow and its height will increase. Liquid inside a thermometer rises to a certain tic mark on the side of a glass tube to tell the temperature of something.

5.) Convert -40 degrees C to F. Show your work. 
F = 1.8 (-40) +32
F = -38.2 + 32
F = -6.2
F = -6 degrees