Which temperature scale is primarily used in scientific contexts in the United States?

In scientific contexts in the United States, the Fahrenheit scale is commonly used, particularly in everyday applications such as weather forecasting and general temperature references. However, within more specific scientific settings, it's important to note that among the options provided, Celsius and Kelvin are more widely utilized in scientific literature and research.

Celsius is the metric unit for temperature measurement and is often used in scientific experiments and calculations because it aligns with the metric system. Kelvin, which starts at absolute zero and measures temperature in terms of thermal energy, is the preferred scale in the physical sciences, particularly in research that involves thermodynamics and absolute temperature.

The Rankine scale is used mainly in engineering fields, particularly those related to thermodynamics, but it is significantly less common than Kelvin.

While Fahrenheit may be the scale most familiar to the general public in terms of temperature, in the realm of scientific inquiry and advanced research, Celsius and Kelvin hold greater relevance, making them the scales primarily used in scientific contexts. In this particular question, it's essential to recognize that while Fahrenheit is recognizable in certain scientific applications, especially in the U.S., it's Celsius or Kelvin that are predominantly embraced for serious scientific work.