Centrigrade Versus Fahrenheit - Which Is Better?

[sundevil777 102]

I like how even in Canada, the size of pizzas is measured in inches, and you still have to buy wheels that have the diameter in inches. Aren't TVs still advertised as inch sizes, aren't canopies still using ft^2! Altitudes by aircraft are still done in feet, right? Fahrenheit is better because it has smaller divisions - it wouldn't seem right to say 37.5, much better to use whole numbers. Don't the English still use the stone for a common weight measure? The metric system isn't so great, if it was, the units of time would have been converted to base 10!

Long live English Units!

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[quade 4]

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It's considered the Universal Solvent and life on Earth would not exist without, that's what makes it so special.

I think you need to expand your definition of what "life" might be made out of. From a theoretical chemistry point of view life could be based around other materials just fine. There's certainly no reason to believe it's the only medium in which life could form.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100606103125.htm

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Andy9o8 2]

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I always wondered why so many Americans keep saying "centigrade".

Someone must keep teaching that term??

The scale was renamed "Celsius", in 1948 -- so it isn't like a change that just happened.

The silliness is in the failure to convert-over to metric in the US, as the Canada did. I understand the practical reason for it, especially in industry; but it still could have been done, over time, had the will been there and sufficient effort made.

Re: the use of the older term Centigrade, that's mostly an age-related thing. When I was a kid in the 60s, everyone still called it Centigrade because most of the then-middle-aged adults who ran everything - and were our teachers and mentors - learned the term when it was still called Centigrade; and old terminologies die hard. By the time I was in high school in the 70s, we always called it Celsius in science classes. Nowadays, very few Americans under 40 refer to it as anything other than Celsius. I imagine that if the US had changed-over to metric back when Canada did, the older term would have washed-out sooner.

Re: the other post that mentioned that some Canadian products are still in English measurements- that, too, would probably be much less so had the US fully changed-over to metric a generation ago.

[turtlespeed 226]

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It's considered the Universal Solvent and life on Earth would not exist without, that's what makes it so special.

I think you need to expand your definition of what "life" might be made out of. From a theoretical chemistry point of view life could be based around other materials just fine. There's certainly no reason to believe it's the only medium in which life could form.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100606103125.htm

MOST life on this planet is water based.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[hcsvader 1]

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Re: the other post that mentioned that some Canadian products are still in English measurements- that, too, would probably be much less so had the US fully changed-over to metric a generation ago.

It is a HUGE pain in the ass have to deal with both metric and imperial. I often get a number of engineered drawings for smaller modules that come together to build one final product. These drawings can be measured in either system depending on if they were done in Canada or America.

It really sucks when your trying to figure out a running dimension using series of drawing done in both imoerial and metric.

I find metric alot easier to use in the field. Adding and subtracting fractions of an inch, having to convert to decimals and then back, multiplying and dividing by 12 to figure out how many feet this thing is, is a real pain in the ass when I could just work in MM

Have you seen my pants?
it"s a rough life, Livin' the dream
>:)

[quade 4]

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MOST life on this planet is water based.

So? What exactly makes that so special?

Nothing. It like when people thought the Earth was the center of the universe and the Sun revolved around it.

I guess if you want to elevate us to some special place int he universe, then maybe it's fine to think water is some magical ingredient from which all other standards could be derived, but the reality is the universe is vast and we only know a very small part of it.

I will grant that water helps define life here on Earth, but . . . so what?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Andy9o8 2]

I feel for you. On a lighter note, I remember when I was a teenager, my dad was shocked, and acted like I was under-educated, because I didn't know how many a "gross" was. (A gross is a dozen dozen = 144.) He was in industry where the term was still common; but my generation had little to no exposure to the term in our basic education.

[sundevil777 102]

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Re: the other post that mentioned that some Canadian products are still in English measurements- that, too, would probably be much less so had the US fully changed-over to metric a generation ago.

It is a HUGE pain in the ass have to deal with both metric and imperial. I often get a number of engineered drawings for smaller modules that come together to build one final product. These drawings can be measured in either system depending on if they were done in Canada or America.

It really sucks when your trying to figure out a running dimension using series of drawing done in both imoerial and metric.

I find metric alot easier to use in the field. Adding and subtracting fractions of an inch, having to convert to decimals and then back, multiplying and dividing by 12 to figure out how many feet this thing is, is a real pain in the ass when I could just work in MM

My memory from when I was with Boeing, is that when both metric and english was on a drawing, there were no fractions used (only decimals), and only inches (no feet - even for big things like airplanes).

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[Andy9o8 2]

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MOST life on this planet is water based.

So? What exactly makes that so special?

Nothing. It like when people thought the Earth was the center of the universe and the Sun revolved around it.

I guess if you want to elevate us to some special place int he universe, then maybe it's fine to think water is some magical ingredient from which all other standards could be derived, but the reality is the universe is vast and we only know a very small part of it.

I will grant that water helps define life here on Earth, but . . . so what?

You have a point. For example, on certain other planets, where, for example, life is based on silicon rather than carbon, they consider Terran society to be quite arrogant in its presumptive fixation with water.

Just the way that non-Americans are amazed that all social discussions in the US seem to revolve around .... well, I don't want to say the word, so we can keep it in Bonfire, but it's that thing that goes bang and ejects a projectile at high velocity.

[Squeak 17]

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It's considered the Universal Solvent and life on Earth would not exist without, that's what makes it so special.

I think you need to expand your definition of what "life" might be made out of. From a theoretical chemistry point of view life could be based around other materials just fine. There's certainly no reason to believe it's the only medium in which life could form.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100606103125.htm

I'm well aware of the material on which life can be composed, however that bares no relevance to your question or my response.
It you are going to quote my text at least have the courtesy to read and comprehend it.

Your question asked why water was so special. my response was/is that

It's considered the Universal Solvent and life on Earth would not exist without.


I didn't say life cant exist without it, so instead of trying sidetrack off away from your assertion that
the Celsius scale is "completely arbitrary" how about you just acquiesce and admit you fucked up.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[quade 4]

But the scale is completely arbitrary.

It's not like it holds any universal truth to it at all.

Virtually anywhere else in the known universe, it would have no actual meaning because of the "standard atmospheric pressure" requirements.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[piisfish 140]

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I'll stick to my universal standard.

If the water is frozen - It's fucking cold

If the water is boiling - It's fucking hot

and then there is the SoCal temperature scale, where a 60F/15.5C = FREEEEEEEEEEEZING

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[antonija 0]

The whole idea of temperature is completely arbitrary as temperature doesn't really exist. Had it existed we would have a direct way of measuring it. In the end the temperature is just a statistical summary of particles in certain state (not temperature of particles - they don't "have" temperature - just an index we append to certain physical states of many particles).
In the end the idea of temperature is used just because it helps us understand our world, enables us to make quicker decisions (like the guy with "fucking cold/hot" scale it easier to know it's 20°C outside compared to "the air outside has a thermal energy of XXX compared to ground state of matter" and decide what to wear).

Water was probably chosen as a reference material because it was (is) easily available in almost any part of the world (where humans live) and because the two points are relatively easy to achieve and maintain long enough to make a measurement.

The temperature unit itself (K and °C) is no longer defined as a 1/100 of the temperature difference between freezing and boiling point of water (at standard pressure) like Celsius scale still is, but rather a 1/273.16 of the temperature difference between absolute zero (ground state of matter with no thermal energy; 0K, -273.16K, -something °F) and a triple point of water (273.16K, 0.01°C and god-knows-how-much °F).

P.S.: Metric system rules!!

I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

[Squeak 17]

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But the scale is completely arbitrary.

It's not like it holds any universal truth to it at all.

Virtually anywhere else in the known universe, it would have no actual meaning because of the "standard atmospheric pressure" requirements.

OK based on your series of replies I have determined you dont actually know what "arbitrary" actually means.

Try to use words you undertstand.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[rhys 0]

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So? What exactly makes that so special?

Nothing. It like when people thought the Earth was the center of the universe and the Sun revolved around it.
...

What is so special about the kings foot?

Which was it his left or his right?

What chain and how many knots again, who tied the knots in the first place?

You are avoiding the point that the metric system including the celcius temperature scale is based on water.

Boiling point 100 degrees C
melting point 0 degrees C

1 cc = 1ml (water) = 1 gram
1000cc = 1 litre = 1 kilogram
1cubic metre = 1000litres = 1 tonne

pretty darn simple and water fits the puzzle the most suitably.

Yes there are varialbes on the volume , and boiling points of water if you delve into it, but what is there that does not have variables? The king also had two feet and neither of those were the same size, don't let the variables confuse you and don't be so easy to overlook the obvious.

Metric is all about water.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[lekstrom10k 0]

You got that right .It is an easy basis for a thermometer .Anywhere any time. Also if there wasnt water close you wouldnt be there for long. Fahrenheit has the same basis as Grandpa saying its as cold as the winter of 1958 or hot as the family reunion of 46 in Alabama.

[hcsvader 1]

and now its fucking raining

where does that fit into my scal eof fuckings?

Have you seen my pants?
it"s a rough life, Livin' the dream
>:)

[lippy 918]

It's fucking wet

And dude aren't you from Alberta? You're scale is missing 'Too fucking cold' (as in below -25C).

I got nuthin

[normiss 858]

My understanding is the confusion over centigrade in re: angle measurement was the primary reason it was changed to Celsius.

[rehmwa 2]

so, it's

"degrees Fahrenheit"
"degress Celcius" (I rarely hear centigrade)
"Kelvin" ('400 Kelvin', NOT "400 degrees Kelvin")

how is Rankine called out?

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[iluvtofly 0]

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I find the following temperature scale works just fine

Fucking cold
Cold
Warm
Hot
Fucking hot

Hey!!!!! You stole my temperature scale!!!!

[piisfish 140]

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My understanding is the confusion over centigrade in re: angle measurement was the primary reason it was changed to Celsius.

yup, because the boiling point of the right angle is 90 degrees

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[normiss 858]

But what measurement scale of degrees????

[shropshire 0]

WTF is CentRigrade


There is a great edition of the BBC science program - Horizon, entitled - "What is 1 Degree" (See it here) - very watch-able and teaches you stuff too.

May not be able to see it in your area .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FudzqfpLLs

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[VincePetaccio 0]

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Neither.

They are both completely arbitrary constructs.

I prefer to measure temperature in terms of kinetic energy of individual molecules. I use a high-powered monocle and measure in (1/2)*n*amu*(km/nanosecond)^2.

Come, my friends! 'Tis not too late to seek out a newer world!