-----Original Message----- From: Duncan Bath <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: January 21, 2002 16:21 Subject: Website editorial comment - Temperatures
>I grew up in a sea of acres out on the Canadian prairies. I remember, well, >when there was risk of damage to crops or garden, folks spoke of (say) "4 >degrees of frost" not 28 Deg F. They were interested in expressing the >temperature in terms relative to the freezing point of water (the melting >point of ice)!!! > >The zero point on the Fahrenheit scale has no practical significance. The >boiling point of water on this scale comes out at 212. What's magical >about the number 212? Why would rational people worship such a temperature >scale?? > >Perhaps because it requires [a little] effort to adapt to the world-scale >Celsius thermometer. > >Duncan >DT Bath, 861 Kensington Dr., Peterborough ON K9J 6J8 >(705)743-4297 >
