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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 |
The Rankine scale (/ˈræŋkɪn/ RANG-kin) is an absolute scale of thermodynamic temperature named after the University of Glasgow engineer and physicist Macquorn Rankine, who proposed it in 1859.[1]
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]
The Rankine scale is 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, 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 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kelvin | Rankine | Fahrenheit | Celsius | Réaumur | ||
Temperature | Absolute zero | 0 K | 0 °Ra | −459.67 °F | −273.15 °C | -218.52 °Ré |
Freezing point of brine[a] | 255.37 K | 459.67 °Ra | 0 °F | −17.78 °C | −14.224 °Ré | |
Freezing point of water[b] | 273.15 K | 491.67 °Ra | 32 °F | 0 °C | 0 °Ré | |
Boiling point of water[c] | 373.1339 K | 671.64102 °Ra | 211.97102 °F | 99.9839 °C | 79.98712 °Ré |