32 °F to °C
Step-by-Step: 32 °F to °C
- Start with 32 °F
- Subtract 32: 32 - 32 = 0
- Multiply by 5/9: 0 x 5/9 = 0 °C
32°F (0°C) is the freezing point of water at standard atmospheric pressure — one of two fixed reference points defining the Fahrenheit scale. At this temperature, liquid water transitions to solid ice, releasing latent heat. For homeowners, 32°F is the critical frost-warning threshold: exposed pipes can burst, tender plants die, and road crews begin salting highways as ice forms on bridges before regular road surfaces. In meteorology, 32°F marks the rain-snow boundary, though the actual transition depends on the temperature profile of the entire atmospheric column.
Did You Know?
Pure water can be supercooled below 32°F (0°C) without freezing if there are no nucleation sites. In labs, water has been cooled to nearly −40°F before spontaneously freezing.
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FAQ
At 32°F (0°C), water molecules lose enough kinetic energy to form stable hydrogen bonds, creating ice crystals.
Yes. 32°F equals exactly 0°C. It is a defining reference point of both scales.
Pipes typically freeze when outdoor temperatures stay below 20°F (−6.7°C) for extended periods, though uninsulated pipes can freeze at 32°F.