What are degrees Rankin used for?

Thread starter Azrioch
Start date Jun 1, 2003
Tags

Degrees

In summary, Degrees Rankin are a unit of measurement used to measure temperature, particularly in scientific and engineering fields in the United States. They are similar to degrees Fahrenheit, but not widely recognized outside of the US. However, they may be preferred in certain fields for their ease of calculation and conversion to the absolute temperature scale. They are not commonly used in everyday life and can be converted to other temperature scales, but this is not a common practice due to their non-standard status.

Jun 1, 2003

Azrioch

My calculator has a conversion table for degrees Rankin and I had no idea what they are used for.

Anyone know?

Biology news on Phys.org

Jun 1, 2003

Phobos

Staff Emeritus

Science Advisor

Gold Member

It's an "absolute temperature" measurement scale in English units.

SAT verbal time...

Kelvin is to Celcius as Rankin is to Fahrenheit

Jun 2, 2003

Azrioch

Thanks.

What are degrees Rankin used for?

Degrees Rankin are used to measure temperature. They are often used in scientific and engineering fields, particularly in the United States.

How do degrees Rankin compare to other temperature scales?

Degrees Rankin are similar to degrees Fahrenheit, with the freezing point of water at 491.67 degrees Rankin and the boiling point at 671.67 degrees Rankin. However, they are rarely used outside of the United States and are not considered a standard unit of measurement.

Why are degrees Rankin sometimes preferred over other temperature scales?

In certain scientific and engineering fields, degrees Rankin may be preferred over other temperature scales because they are based on the same unit of measurement as the absolute temperature scale, making calculations and conversions easier.

Are degrees Rankin used in everyday life?

No, degrees Rankin are not commonly used in everyday life. They are primarily used in specialized fields and are not widely understood by the general public.

Can degrees Rankin be converted to other temperature scales?

Yes, degrees Rankin can be converted to other temperature scales such as degrees Celsius or Kelvin using conversion formulas. However, since they are not a standard unit of measurement, these conversions are not commonly used.