Thermometer with Fahrenheit and Celsius units

Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736).^[1] Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees. The Fahrenheit scale was replaced by the Celsius scale in most countries during the mid to late 20th century,^[2] though Canada retains it as a supplementary scale that can be used alongside Celsius.^[3][4][5][6] Fahrenheit remains the official scale of the United States, Cayman Islands and Belize.^[7] The Rankine temperature scale was based upon the Fahrenheit temperature scale, with its zero representing absolute zero instead.

Definition and conversions[link]

On the Fahrenheit scale, the freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and the boiling point 212 °F (at standard atmospheric pressure). This puts the boiling and freezing points of water exactly 180 degrees apart.^[8] Therefore, a degree on the Fahrenheit scale is ¹⁄₁₈₀ of the interval between the freezing point and the boiling point. On the Celsius scale, the freezing and boiling points of water are 100 degrees apart. A temperature interval of 1 °F is equal to an interval of ⁵⁄₉ degrees Celsius. The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales intersect at −40° (−40 °F and −40 °C represent the same temperature).

Absolute zero is defined as −273.15 °C or −459.67 °F. The Rankine temperature scale was created to use degree intervals the same size as those of the Fahrenheit scale, such that a temperature difference of one degree Rankine (1 °R) is equal to a difference of 1 °F, except that absolute zero is 0 °R – the same way that the Kelvin temperature scale matches the Celsius scale, except that absolute zero is 0 K.^[8] The Fahrenheit scale uses (in the same manner as the later Celsius scale) the symbol ° to denote a point on the temperature scale and the letter F to indicate the use of the Fahrenheit scale (e.g. "Gallium melts at 85.5763 °F"),^[9] as well as to denote a difference between temperatures or an uncertainty in temperature (e.g. "The output of the heat exchanger experiences an increase of 72 °F" and "Our standard uncertainty is ±5 °F").

History[link]

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit

According to an article Fahrenheit wrote in 1724, he based his scale on three reference points of temperature.^[8] In his initial scale (which is not the final Fahrenheit scale), the zero point is determined by placing the thermometer in brine: he used a mixture of ice, water, and ammonium chloride, a salt, at a 1:1:1 ratio. This is a frigorific mixture which stabilizes its temperature automatically: that stable temperature was defined as 0 °F (−17.78 °C). The second point, at 32 degrees, was a mixture of ice and water without the ammonium chloride at a 1:1 ratio. The third point, 96 degrees, was approximately the human body temperature, then called "blood-heat".^[10]

According to a letter Fahrenheit wrote to his friend Herman Boerhaave,^[11] his scale was built on the work of Ole Rømer, whom he had met earlier. In Rømer's scale, brine freezes at zero, water freezes and melts at 7.5 degrees, body temperature is 22.5, and water boils at 60 degrees. Fahrenheit multiplied each value by four in order to eliminate fractions and increase the granularity of the scale. He then re-calibrated his scale using the melting point of ice and normal human body temperature (which were at 30 and 90 degrees); he adjusted the scale so that the melting point of ice would be 32 degrees and body temperature 96 degrees, so that 64 intervals would separate the two, allowing him to mark degree lines on his instruments by simply bisecting the interval six times (since 64 is 2 to the sixth power).^[10][12]

Fahrenheit observed that water boils at about 212 degrees using this scale. Later, other scientists decided to redefine the degree slightly to make the freezing point exactly 32 °F, and the boiling point exactly 212 °F or 180 degrees higher.^{[citation needed]} It is for this reason that normal human body temperature is approximately 98° (oral temperature) on the revised scale (whereas it was 90° on Fahrenheit's multiplication of Rømer, and 96° on his original scale).^[13]

Usage[link]

The Fahrenheit scale was the primary temperature standard for climatic, industrial and medical purposes in English-speaking countries until the 1960s. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the Celsius scale (known until 1948 as centigrade) replaced Fahrenheit in many countries, typically during their metrication process.^[14]

Fahrenheit is used in the United States, Belize, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands^[7] for everyday applications. For example, U.S. weather forecasts, food cooking, and freezing temperatures are typically given in degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists, such as meteorologists, use Celsius or Kelvin in all countries.^[15] In some nations, both measures are quoted.^[16]

Various reasons are given^[who?] for the resistance to the Celsius system in the U.S., including the larger size of each degree Celsius (resulting in the need for decimals where integer Fahrenheit degrees were adequate for much non-technical work).^{[citation needed]} Another reason is the lower zero point in the Fahrenheit system which reduces the number of negative signs when measurements such as weather data were averaged.^[17]

In some countries, Fahrenheit may be used in daily life alongside Celsius. For example, Canada has passed legislation favouring the International System of Units, while also maintaining legal definitions for traditional Canadian imperial units.^[18] Canadian weather reports are conveyed using degrees Celsius with occasional reference to Fahrenheit especially for trans border broadcasts. Virtually all Canadian ovens make legal use of the Fahrenheit scale.^[19] Thermometers, both digital and analogue, sold in Canada usually employ both the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales.^[20][21][22]

Fahrenheit is also utilized in the United Kingdom alongside Celsius. Weather reports displayed in newspapers and online quote temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit (or have an option to enable this), especially during record-breaking weather.^[23] However, TV weather reports are primarily conveyed using degrees Celsius. Cooking instructions on most packaged food also list dual temperature scales along with digital/analogue thermometers.

Unicode representation of symbol[link]

The Fahrenheit symbol has its own Unicode character: "℉"(U+2109). This is a compatibility character encoded for roundtrip compatibility with legacy CJK encodings (which included it to conform to layout in square ideographic character cells) and vertical layout. Use of compatibility characters is discouraged by the Unicode Consortium. The ordinary degree sign (U+00B0) followed by the Latin letter F ("°F") is thus the preferred way of recording the symbol for degree Fahrenheit.

See also[link]

• Comparison of temperature scales

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up fahrenheit in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• NOAA web site: Fahrenheit to Celsius converter

Hersheypark

Clockwise from top center: Hersheypark logo · Fahrenheit · Great Bear (train on lift), Storm Runner and Sidewinder · Ferris Wheel  · Wave Swinger · Wild Cat · SooperDooperLooper and Comet.
Slogan	Rush to Hersheypark
Location	Derry Township, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates	40°16′42.205″N 76°39′4″W / 40.27839028°N 76.65111°W / 40.27839028; -76.65111Coordinates: 40°16′42.205″N 76°39′4″W / 40.27839028°N 76.65111°W / 40.27839028; -76.65111
Theme	None
Owner	Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Opened	April 24, 1907 (1907-04-24)
Previous names	Hershey Park
Operating season	April (Springtime), May–September (Regular), October (Halloween), November–December (Candylane)
Visitors per annum	2,000,000
Rides
Total	67 (as of 2012)
Roller coasters	12
Water rides	14
Website	Official website

Hersheypark (known as Hershey Park until 1970) is a family theme park situated in Hershey, Derry Township, Pennsylvania, United States, about 15 miles (24 km) east of Harrisburg, and 95 miles (153 km) west of Philadelphia. Founded in 1905 by Milton S. Hershey, as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, as of 2012, the park is wholly and privately owned by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. The park has won several awards, including the IAAPA Applause Award.^[1]

The park opened its first roller coaster in 1923, the The Wild Cat, an early Philadelphia Toboggan Company coaster. In 1970, Hershey Park began a redevelopment plan which made the park into the new Hersheypark. The 1970s brought the first looping roller coaster on the East Coast, as well as a 330 foot tall observation tower, the Kissing Tower. Beginning in the mid 1980s, the park rapidly expanded. Between 1991 and 2008, the park added eight roller coasters and a water park. As of 2011, the park's area covers over 110 acres (45 ha), containing over 60 rides and attractions. The park contains a waterpark called The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, and a zoo called ZOOAMERICA - North American Wildlife Park. Adjacent is Hershey's Chocolate World, a visitors' center that is open to the public and that contains shops, restaurants, and a chocolate factory-themed ride.

History[link]

In 1903, Milton S. Hershey, founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, surveyed a site along Spring Creek that would be suitable for his park. Until 1906, it was simply a little park area for Hershey employees to visit and have picnics. On May 30, 1906, Hershey dedicated the park and called it Hershey Park.^[2][3] Over the years, attractions were added and removed, including a roller coaster, thrill rides, and funhouses. In 1970, the park was redeveloped after being in disrepair for a number of years. The name was changed to Hersheypark and it has operated under that name ever since.

Hersheypark developed a number of themed areas, the first being Carrousel Circle and Der Deitch Platz in 1972, followed by Tower Plaza in 1975, and the most recent being The Boardwalk at Hersheypark in 2007. The themed areas featured different music, such as polka-style songs being played in Der Deitch Platz and Carrousel Circle, country music being played in the Pioneer Frontier themed area, the Beach Boys being played near Tidal Force and later in The Boardwalk, as well as Ragtime and jazz music being played in Midway America. Over the years, however, the music was phased into being the same across the park, except in The Boardwalk.

The park added its first roller coaster in 1923, The Wild Cat, for the town of Hershey's twentieth anniversary,^[3] and its most recent roller coaster in 2008, Fahrenheit. Between 1991 and 2008, the park added eight roller coasters, after having added only four between 1946 and 1990, all of which remain except for a twin roller coaster called Toboggan (colloquially it was called Twin Toboggans) which had been located in Carrousel Circle.

Attractions[link]

Rides[link]

Hersheypark has had over 100 rides in the park's history. The current count is 68. The park has featured 14 roller coasters, two of which no longer stand. The park had two concepts cancelled during their many years of operation; the first in 1942 Flying Turns and Turbulence.

The first ride the park purchased was a Herschell carousel in 1908. The most recent ride was Skyrush, their 12th coaster, which opened on May 26, 2012. In 2009, the park added it's most recent water attractions, the Intercoastal Waterway and The Shore, as part of the Boardwalk waterpark expansion, the SeaQuel.

Entertainment[link]

Hersheypark features a number of entertainment shows in a number of venues including Hersheypark Amphitheater and the Music Box Theater, as well as strolling shows throughout the park.

Dining[link]

There are facilities for accommodating particular dietary needs, including a kosher restaurant (Central PA's Kosher Mart) and a variety of restaurants offering gluten-free rolls and bread. Groups can pre-arrange catering in one of six private picnic areas inside the park. Signs are posted prohibiting guests from bringing in outside food and drink. A casual sit down restaurant called Hersheypark Place (formerly Tudor Grill) is located just outside the park.

Themed areas[link]

Hersheypark is made up of nine themed areas, starting with an area outside the main gate, leading to the north end of the park, Midway America, and the south end of the park, Minetown.

Tudor Square[link]

Tudor Square is the first themed area of Hersheypark. It is located outside of the main gates and is free to enter. It features rustic architecture and is home to several shops, a Dunkin’ Donuts and Hersheypark Place, the only full-service restaurant in the park. It also features breakfast with the Hershey's Product Characters. The main gates of Hersheypark separate Tudor Square from the Rhineland section.

Rhineland[link]

Spring Creek near the Comet (former location of the Sunken Gardens) before construction of Skyrush began.

Rhineland is named after its Bavarian architecture and is the first park section located within the park’s gates. Like Tudor Square, Rhineland is not home to any attractions but does include a wide variety of gift shops as well as a Nathan’s, Famous Famiglia Pizzeria and the Central PA's Kosher Mart. The Kosher Mart building was, until 1992, the Rhineland entrance of the Sky Ride - a ski lift transport ride which took you to Minetown, near the Kissing Tower and Twin Turnpike (which is now the location of Great Bear).^[3]

Founder’s Circle[link]

From 1972 until 2004, this area was known as Carrousel Circle, after the Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel in the middle of the circle. The area initially featured several flat rides including Scrambler and an octopus-type ride, a double giant ferris wheel called Giant Wheel, as well as a twin roller coaster called Twin Toboggans. The Twin Toboggans were removed after five years of service.^[3] Several of the flat rides were removed and replaced with kiddie rides over the years. When the Giant Wheel was removed after the 2004 season, it was due to be replaced by a roller coaster called Turbulence; however the project was cancelled. Instead, two older rides were reintroduced to the park, Starship America and Balloon Flite, which had been removed in previous seasons.

In 2005, Carrousel Circle became Founder's Circle, which as of 2011, is still the area's name. The center of the section is still home to the park’s Carrousel, which is surrounded by the aforementioned rides, Scrambler, and other children’s rides. Founder’s Circle is also home to the Craftbarn restaurant, formerly called Der Deitch Platz (a Pennsylvania Dutch theme)^[3] and the Get the Picture Souvenir Photo Stand where guests can see and purchase pictures taken of them by park photographers throughout their day.

The Hollow[link]

This section was named after the oldest operating coaster in the park, Comet, and lies along Spring Creek. This is one of the oldest areas part of Hersheypark; many rides have come and gone in this area. The park's first water ride, the Mill Chute installed in 1929, was alongside the creek where Great Bear runs today. The original location for the bumper cars, then called the Auto Skooters, is now the SooperDooperLooper Sandwich Stop. There were giant slides on the hill where the Hersheypark Amphitheater is located. A turnpike ride was located underneath the high bridge that crossed Spring Creek to Minetown. The park's carousel, before being moved to Carrousel Circle in 1972, was located along the creek adjacent to the station of Comet. Before SooperDooperLooper came to Comet Hollow in 1977, a Himalaya ride was in that location, and before that, twin Eli Bridge Ferris wheels. A whip, and a station for the Electric Railroad were also located in Comet Hollow at one time.^[3]

One of Hersheypark's most significant floods occurred in 1972 as a result of Hurricane Agnes. A number of rides were heavily damaged or destroyed as a result. These rides include the turnpike ride, the Mill Chute and the giant slides. They were eventually replaced (the Coal Cracker (1973) and Twin Turnpike (1975) were put on higher ground in Minetown, and the Merry Derry Dip Fun Slide was put in Midway America twenty five years later in 1997).^[3]

Today, Comet Hollow features two roller coasters, Comet and SooperDooperLooper, the first looping roller coaster on the East Coast, and the Wave Swinger. Almost all of Great Bear's run track courses through Comet Hollow. For the 2012 season a third roller coaster for Comet Hollow will open, Skyrush, which the station will be located next to Comet's lift. The ride will be the tallest object in Comet Hollow, at 200 feet tall.

Also, beginning with the 2012 season and renovations being done to this area, the park changed the name of the once 'Comet Hollow' to the now present name of 'The Hollow'.

Minetown[link]

Great Bear and SooperDooperLooper

Minetown was modeled to resemble a mining town, just as its name says. The section was officially opened in 1990 with the additions of Convoy, Red Baron, Flying Falcon and Dinosaur-Go-Round. All except Dinosaur-Go-Round are still in the area; Dinosaur-Go-Round was moved to Founder’s Circle for the 2007 season so the Frog Hoppers could be moved to its location to make room for the Boardwalk. The section features many classic Hersheypark attractions, including the Sunoco Twin Turnpike, Coal Cracker log flume, Kissing Tower and Great Bear inverted roller coaster. It is also home to the Minetown Arcade, Minetown Restaurant, Hersheypark Amphitheater, Hersheypark Aquatheater and the Hersheypark entrance to ZooAmerica. The Minetown Restaurant is a cafeteria style place, and is the only area in the park where alcohol is served.

Music Box Way[link]

Music Box Way is a section that connects Founder’s Circle, Minetown and Pioneer Frontier. It is named for its wide array of musical entertainment. It is home to the Chevrolet Music Box Theater, the only fully enclosed entertainment venue in the park. Across from the Theater are stages for the popular Milkmen and Soda Pops acts. Next door to the Theater is Studio H, a place where guests can videotape themselves making music videos. Rides in the area include the Geico Fender Bender (bumper cars), Tiny Timbers (miniature log flume), Pirate (swinging ship), Capital BlueCross Monorail, The Claw, Dry Gulch Railroad, and the Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge.

Pioneer Frontier[link]

The largest area of the park, Pioneer Frontier, the southwestern-themed section of the park, includes four of the park’s roller coasters: Trailblazer (the second oldest in the park),Sidewinder, Storm Runner, and Fahrenheit. It also includes the Frontier Flyers, The Howler, Mini Scrambler, and Livery Stables. It also has its own food court which features a wide variety of restaurants. The section previously included the area up to and including Tidal Force until 2007 when Tidal Force and Canyon River Rapids were rezoned into the new Boardwalk.

Midway America[link]

An overhead view of Hersheypark from the Ferris Wheel

Opened in 1996 as a homage to the classic midway fair, Midway America features three roller coasters (four if you count the two tracks of Lightning Racer distinctly). The other two are Wildcat and Wild Mouse, which are located across from one another. The section also contains the Whip, Merry Derry Dip Fun Slides, Music Express, Ferris Wheel and three children’s rides. To further represent its theme, the section has multiple food stands and carts like those found at carnivals, as well as plenty of midway games.

The Boardwalk at Hersheypark[link]

The newest themed area of the park, the Boardwalk waterpark was officially opened in 2007 and featured five new waterpark attractions along with three already standing rides: Roller Soaker, Tidal Force and Canyon River Rapids. The Roller Soaker and Tidal Force were rezoned into Midway America. In 2009, the Boardwalk received an expansion known as the Seaquel which replaced the iconic Canyon River Rapids with Intercoastal Waterway (a lazy river), the Shore (a wave pool) and cabanas. The coolest food stand near the Boardwalk is Waterfront Creamery.

Regional competition[link]

Regional competition includes:

• DelGrosso's Amusement Park, located in Tipton, Pennsylvania
• Dorney Park, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania
• Kennywood Park, located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Knoebels Amusement Resort, located in Elysburg, Pennsylvania
• Six Flags America, located near Washington, D.C.
• Six Flags Great Adventure, located in Jackson Township, New Jersey

Gallery[link]

• Hersheypark
• 

  Great Bear's 124 foot drop

• 

  SooperDooperLooper coasting over a hill

• 

  Skyrush being built

• 

  Train 2 of Monorail leaving the station

• 

  Fahrenheit's lift

• 

  Fahrenheit's corkscrew

• 

  Trailblazer mid-course

• 

  Storm Runner with the Kissing Tower in the background

• 

  Storm Runner snake dive

• 

  Sidewinder lift hills

• 

  Roller Soaker mid-course and station

• 

  Wildcat's lift, drop and turn

• 

  Wild Mouse mid-course

• 

  Lightning Racer station and lift

• Hersheypark Midway America.jpg

  Midway America in the evening

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Futrell, Jim. Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002.
• Whitenack, Pamela "Hersheypark." Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2006.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hersheypark

• HPBuzz.com and Forums
• Hersheypark
• Hershey Community Archives
• Hersheypark Photos
• Hersheypark pictures and information at CoasterGallery.com