TABULA/samples/temperature scales

From J Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

This is SAMPLE6. To work with this sample, enter $6

temperature scales
┌ ┌ ┌ ┌ ┌ ┌ ┌ ┌ ┌ {1}            1 f.p  Freezing pt units
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └>{2}        0.732 b.p  Boiling pt units
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ └>  {3}          0°C      Celsius: 0 to 100
│ │ │ │ │ │ └>    {4}       32.0°F      Fahrenheit: 32 to 212
│ │ │ │ │ └>      {5}       273.15 K    Kelvin: 273.15 to 373.15
│ │ │ │ └>        {6}    491.67°Ra      Rankine: 491.67 to 671.64
│ │ │ └>          {7}       150°De      Delisle: 150 to 0
│ │ └>            {8}         0°Ne      Newton: 0 to 33
│ └>              {9}         0°Re      Reaumur: 0 to 80
└>                {10}      7.5°Ro      Roemer: 7.5 to 60

Rationale

Sir Isaac Newton was the first person to recognise the importance of measuring temperature in a physical experiment. He invented a thermometer based on floats in a vessel of water. He also invented a temperature scale: degrees Newton [°N].

Since then, a number of other temperature scales have been invented, of importance to particular trades, or of historical interest only.

Two main temperature scales are in common use today: Fahrenheit [°F] and Centigrade [°C], aka Celsius. Another temperature scale preferred by scientists is the Kelvin scale [K] (NOTE: no [°] symbol).

TABULA as distributed handles and converts between the scales listed in this sample t-table, which are the scales described in Wikipedia.
But other scales are possible, and you can add them yourself to the constant definition table of the addon: math/uu, viz. ~addons/math/uu/uuc.ijs.

TABULA has a tough job converting between temperature scales. Nearly all other quantities are convertible to other (compatible) quantities by conversion factors. But temperature scales also need a displacement to accommodate the differences between them in zero point (viz. 0 degrees in the given scale). This t-table is a test of how well TABULA does this job.

It also has a practical application in the study of Russian literature. Dostoyevsky (The Brothers Karamazov) frequently quotes the outdoor temperature in degrees Réaumur [°Re]. What's that in real degrees?

Try it out

As loaded, the t-table shows the freezing point of water (1 f.p) in 8 different scales, plus the notional scales: [f.p] (freezing point) and [b.p] (boiling point).

Let us show the boiling point of water (1 b.p) in the same scales.

  1. Select item {2}
    It shows: 0.732 b.p
  2. Click tool set1u
    It changes to: 1 b.p and other lines change accordingly.

The t-table can show temperatures other than [f.p] and [b.p]. Let us show 98.4°F ("normal" body temperature) in all the other scales.

  1. Select item {5} [°F]
  2. Change the value of the item to 98.4.

Build this t-table

  1. [UNFINISHED]