Réaumur
Abbreviation/Symbol:
ºRé
Worldwide use:
The Réaumur scale, named after the French scientist René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, was once a widely used unit of temperature measurement in Europe. Introduced in the early 18th century, it gained popularity in countries such as France, Germany, and Russia. The scale is based on the freezing and boiling points of water, with 0° Réaumur representing the freezing point and 80° Réaumur representing the boiling point.
However, the worldwide use of the Réaumur scale has significantly declined over the years. With the advent of the Celsius (formerly known as centigrade) scale, which was introduced by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in the mid-18th century, the Réaumur scale lost its prominence. The Celsius scale, which is now the standard unit of temperature measurement in most countries, offers a more practical and universally applicable system.
Today, the Réaumur scale is rarely used outside of historical or academic contexts. It serves as a reminder of the evolution of temperature measurement and the contributions made by scientists in the past. While it may still be encountered in some older literature or historical documents, the Réaumur scale has been largely replaced by the Celsius scale, which is more widely understood and used across the globe.
Definition:
The Réaumur is a unit of temperature measurement named after René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, a French scientist who proposed the scale in the early 18th century. The Réaumur scale is based on the freezing and boiling points of water, with 0° Réaumur representing the freezing point and 80° Réaumur representing the boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure.
The Réaumur scale is similar to the Celsius scale, with both scales having the same size of degree. However, the zero point and the boiling point on the Réaumur scale are different from those on the Celsius scale. While 0° Celsius represents the freezing point of water and 100° Celsius represents the boiling point, 0° Réaumur is slightly colder than the freezing point and 80° Réaumur is slightly hotter than the boiling point.
Although the Réaumur scale was widely used in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, it has since been largely replaced by the Celsius scale in most countries. However, it is still occasionally used in some specific applications, particularly in the fields of brewing and cooking. To convert temperatures between Réaumur and Celsius, one can use the formula: °C = (°Ré - 0) × 5/4.
Origin:
The Réaumur scale, also known as the "octogesimal division," is a temperature scale named after René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, a French scientist and inventor. Réaumur was born on February 28, 1683, in La Rochelle, France. He made significant contributions to various fields, including entomology, zoology, and physics, but he is best known for his work in thermometry.
Réaumur developed his temperature scale in 1730, based on the freezing and boiling points of water. He divided the range between these two points into 80 equal parts, with the freezing point set at 0° Réaumur and the boiling point at 80° Réaumur. This scale gained popularity in Europe, particularly in France and Germany, during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Réaumur scale was widely used in scientific research and engineering applications, especially in the fields of brewing, distilling, and metallurgy. However, it gradually fell out of favor as the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales gained prominence. Today, the Réaumur scale is rarely used, except in historical contexts or in specific industries that still rely on its measurements.
Common references:
Freezing point of water = 0°Ré
Boiling point of water = 80°Ré
Usage context:
The Réaumur scale was primarily used in scientific and industrial contexts during its heyday. It was commonly employed in laboratories for scientific experiments and research, as well as in various industries such as brewing, metallurgy, and glass manufacturing. The scale provided a convenient and practical way to measure temperature in these settings, allowing for accurate control and monitoring of processes.
With the advent of the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales, the usage of the Réaumur scale gradually declined. Today, it is considered obsolete and is rarely used outside of historical or educational contexts. Nonetheless, understanding the Réaumur scale can be valuable for historians, scientists, and students studying the history of temperature measurement and the development of different temperature scales.