The Rankine scale (/ˈræŋkɪn/) is an absolute scale of thermodynamic temperature named after the University of Glasgow engineer and physicist Macquorn Rankine, who proposed it in 1859.[1]
| Rankine | |
|---|---|
| Unit of | Temperature |
| Symbol | R, °R, °Ra |
| Named after | Macquorn Rankine |
| Conversions | |
| x R in ... | ... corresponds to ... |
| Kelvin scale | 5/9 x K |
| Celsius scale | (5/9 x − 273.15) °C |
| Fahrenheit | (x − 459.67) °F |
History
Similar to the Kelvin scale, which was first proposed in 1848,[1] zero on the Rankine scale is absolute zero, but a temperature difference of one Rankine degree (°R or °Ra) is defined as equal to one Fahrenheit degree, rather than the Celsius degree used on the Kelvin scale. In converting from kelvin to degrees Rankine, 1 K = 9/5 °R or 1 K = 1.8 °R. A temperature of 0 K (−273.15 °C; −459.67 °F) is equal to 0 °R.[2]
Usage
The Rankine scale is still used in engineering systems where heat computations are done using degrees Fahrenheit.[3]
The symbol for degrees Rankine is °R[2] (or °Ra if necessary to distinguish it from the Rømer and Réaumur scales). By analogy with the SI unit (Kelvin scale), some authors term the unit Rankine - omitting the degree symbol.[4][5]
Some temperatures relating the Rankine scale to other temperature scales are shown in the table below.
| Scale | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) | Kelvin (K) | Rankine (°R) | ||
| Temperature | Absolute zero | −273.15 | −459.67 | 0 | 0 |
| Freezing point of brine[a] | −17.78 | 0 | 255.37 | 459.67 | |
| Freezing point of water[b] | 0 | 32 | 273.15 | 491.67 | |
| Boiling point of water[c] | 99.9839 | 211.97102 | 373.1339 | 671.64102 | |
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Balmer, Robert (2011). Modern Engineering Thermodynamics. Oxford: Elsevier Inc. ISBN 978-0-12-374996-3.
- Magnum, B.W. (June 1995). "Reproducibility of the Temperature of the Ice Point in Routine Measurements" (PDF). NIST Technical Note. 1411. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
- Pauken, Michael (2011). Thermodynamics For Dummies. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-1-118-00291-9.
- Thompson, Ambler; Taylor, Barry N. (2008). "Guide for the use of the International System of Units (SI)" (PDF). NIST Special Publication. 811. doi:10.6028/nist.sp.811e2008. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- Grigull, Ulrich (1986). Heat Transfer (PDF). Retrieved 2022-08-29.
