James R. Frysinger
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:16:43 -0700
I'm less fussy, folks. I'll be happy when people stop using the Fahrenheit scale.
Are we trying here to specify the color of the dancing slippers worn by some yet to be determined number of angels dancing on the head of a pin? This thread is starting to sound like some deep theological discussion among nuns.
I suggest we concentrate on metrication of the U.S. Then we can "fix" the metric system to our hearts' content.
Jim On 2010-08-31 2053, Bill Hooper wrote:
On Aug 31 , at 7:45 AM, John M. Steele wrote:measurement on the thermodynamic scale is somewhat impractical,Why? Today's high temperature here in Florida was about 32 ˚C. Why would it be "impractical" to say it was 305 K? There is nothing wrong with a number in the hundreds. But I don't claim to propose that we measure environmental as the ABSOLUTE temperature in kelvins. I do propose we measure environmental temperatures in kelvins as it is related to the freezing point of water, that is, as a RELATIVE temperature, specifically, relative to the freezing point of water. I am proposing tat we do this be stating environmental temperatures as so-and-so many kelvins above freezing. For example, say that temperature in Florida today was 32 K above freezing. I am simply proposing we change from saying "32 degrees Celsius" to saying "32 kelvins above freezing". This could be further simplified by omitting the phrase "above freezing" whenever the context makes such a meaning obvious. We do this all the time with current temperatures. Don't we? How often do you hear a TV weather reporter stating "today's high was 90 degrees Fahrenheit"? Never (almost) They ALL just say it was "90" (or maybe "90 degrees"). The easiest way to avoid the confusing relationship between degrees Celsius and kelvins is to eliminate degrees Celsius entirely. We don't even need to use big numbers if we measure relatively. It's just like measuring elevations from sea level. If the distance from the center of the earth can be measured in metres then the height of a mountain above sea level can be measure in metres, too. If the elevation of temperature above absolute zero can be measured in kelvins, then the elevation of temperature above freezing can be measured in kelvins, too. Same unit, two different things being measured. Bill Hooper 1810 mm tall (above my feet) Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA *In all the above, I assume we are only interested in temperatures to the nearest whole degree. ========================== SImplification Begins With SI. ==========================
-- James R. Frysinger 632 Stony Point Mountain Road Doyle, TN 38559-3030 (C) 931.212.0267 (H) 931.657.3107 (F) 931.657.3108