What is the upper fixed point (boiling point of water) in the Celsius scale?
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The Celsius scale is the most commonly used temperature scale in everyday life and science. Option A (0°C) is incorrect — 0°C is the lower fixed point of the Celsius scale, which is the freezing/melting point of pure water at standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm). This is not the boiling point. Option B (32°C) is incorrect — 32°F is the freezing point of water on the Fahrenheit scale. Students often confuse Fahrenheit values with Celsius values. 32°C in Celsius is a warm temperature (~89.6°F) but is neither the freezing nor boiling point of water. Option C (100°C) is CORRECT — the upper fixed point of the Celsius scale is 100°C, which is the boiling point of pure water at standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm = 101.325 kPa). The Celsius scale was devised by Anders Celsius in 1742. It has 100 equal divisions between 0°C (freezing) and 100°C (boiling). Option D (212°C) is incorrect — 212°F is the boiling point of water on the Fahrenheit scale. Understanding the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius boiling points is crucial for competitive exams.
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Heat is a form of energy that transfers between objects or systems due to a temperature difference, moving from a hotter body to a cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached.