Double 0

[Eddie Longest]

While sitting here watching the thermometer fall before sunrise I just realized that 0 actually covers two degrees. There is a 0+ and a 0-, never really thought about it before. Now to figure out a trick question to win bets with now that I have this valuble information. What else can you do when it is this cold.
Eddie

[mmeyer]

You could switch to a Kelvin or Rankin scale (which use either centigrade (Celcius) or Farenheit divisions respectively) which eliminate this dilemma by assigning the lowest possible temperature as absolute 0. Thus no + or -.


Sent from my iPad using Fiberglass RV

[Bob Miller]

In F & C measurements, "0" is the name given to a specific temperature condition and is always a measurement of heat on a much longer scale (K & R).


If you thermometer shows a 1 degree difference between (+) & (-) zero me thinks you need a new thermometer as all other measurements will be off by 1 degree, as if that makes any difference.... LOLOLOL

[steve dunham]

"Which is colder -40 deg F or -40 deg C ?" In 5 years not one of my students answered that question correctly . Well so much for teaching the metric system to U.S. students.

[Steve Outlaw]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

"Which is colder -40 deg F or -40 deg C ?" In 5 years not one of my students answered that question correctly . Well so much for teaching the metric system to U.S. students.

Arn't they the same?

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Steve Outlaw

Arn't they the same?

You are correct so you pass the test

[David Tilston]

In either °C, or °F, -40 is really cold.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

"Which is colder -40 deg F or -40 deg C ?" In 5 years not one of my students answered that question correctly . Well so much for teaching the metric system to U.S. students.

I am not surprised to hear that! I work with an international crew at World Cup Ski races and the question often asked at breakfast by our US crew members is: How cold is it really?

At Lake Louise last year we had temp down to -40 a couple of mornings. We had a good laugh at breakfast as the discussion often sounded a lot like the Abott and Costello skit "Who's on first'. Often only ending when someone pulled out an iPhone and showed the party asking on a weather app that C and F are the same at -40. Funniest part is seeing the look on their faces when the realization as to just how cold it really is hits them!

[honda03842]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

"Which is colder -40 deg F or -40 deg C ?" In 5 years not one of my students answered that question correctly . Well so much for teaching the metric system to U.S. students.

Centigrade pre-dates the metric system and the basic metric system of measurement is not required to resolve -40 C question, only the relationship between degrees C and F is required, a rather simple single point solution to find they are equal temperatures.

I did get this one right on a high school test 55 years ago.

[Paul O.]

Originally Posted by Carol H

I am not surprised to hear that! I work with an international crew at World Cup Ski races and the question often asked at breakfast by our US crew members is: How cold is it really?

At Lake Louise last year we had temp down to -40 a couple of mornings. We had a good laugh at breakfast as the discussion often sounded a lot like the Abott and Costello skit "Who's on first'. Often only ending when someone pulled out an iPhone and showed the party asking on a weather app that C and F are the same at -40. Funniest part is seeing the look on their faces when the realization as to just how cold it really is hits them!

Isn't sad that they would be kind of lost without a phone ap?

[james kent]

Clear sky, bright and sunny and a cool -16 C this afternoon. The dog froZe her feet half way around the block.
At -25, ( this morning) she stayed out in the back yard just long enough.
At -40 she wants newspapers out in the garage 'cause baby it's cold outside' and no way is she going around the block.


Sent from my iPad using Fiberglass RV

[Paul O.]

Originally Posted by honda03842

I did get this one right on a high school test 55 years ago.

And you did not have an iPhone ap!

Since the topic of metric system pops up occasionally, I would like to recommend, especially to the retired people who have time to read at last, The Measure of All Things, by Ken Alder. A fascinating read. I won't give any clues, look it up on Amazon.