Convert Celsius to Rankine in seconds
(1 °C x 9÷5) + 491.67 = 493.47 °R
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Ever tried explaining American engineering standards to a European scientist? You'll likely crash into the Celsius-Rankine divide faster than a SpaceX landing attempt. While most of teh world uses Celsius or Kelvin, some U.S. industries cling to Rankine like it's 1950s rocket fuel. Let's break down why this scale persists and how to navigate it.
Unit definitions
What is a celsius (°C)?
- Description: The Celsius scale sets water's freezing point at 0° and boiling point at 100° under standard atmospheric pressure
- Symbol: °C
- Common uses: Worldwide weather reporting, scientific research, cooking
- Definition: Officially tied to the Kelvin scale through the equation °C = K - 273.15
What is a rankine (°R)?
- Description: An absolute temperature scale using Fahrenheit-degree increments
- Symbol: °R
- Common uses: U.S. engineering systems, historical thermodynamics
- Definition: °R = °F + 459.67, making 0°R absolute zero (-459.67°F)
Conversion formula
Celsius to Rankine formula:
°R = (°C × 9/5) + 491.67
Rankine to Celsius formula:
°C = (°R - 491.67) × 5/9
Example calculations
Example 1: Convert 25°C to Rankine
(25 × 9/5) + 491.67 = 45 + 491.67 = 536.67°R
Example 2: Convert 500°R to Celsius
(500 - 491.67) × 5/9 = 8.33 × 5/9 ≈ 4.627°C
Conversion tables
Celsius to Rankine
| °C | °R |
|---|---|
| -50 | 401.67 |
| 0 | 491.67 |
| 10 | 509.67 |
| 20 | 527.67 |
| 30 | 545.67 |
| 40 | 563.67 |
| 50 | 581.67 |
| 100 | 671.67 |
Rankine to Celsius
| °R | °C |
|---|---|
| 400 | -50.37 |
| 491.67 | 0.00 |
| 500 | 4.63 |
| 527.67 | 20.00 |
| 600 | 59.63 |
| 671.67 | 100.00 |
Historical context
The Celsius scale got its start in 1742 from Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius, who originally set boiling point at 0° and freezing at 100° (yes, backwards!). The Rankine scale emerged a century later when Scottish engineer William Rankine needed an absolute version of Fahrenheit for steam engine calculations. For decades, Rankine dominated American engineering textbooks until metrication efforts in the 1970s pushed industries toward Kelvin. Still, you'll find stubborn pockets of Rankine usage. NASA's Space Shuttle program used it for certain propulsion calculations until 2011.
Interesting facts
- Absolute zero alignment: Both Rankine and Kelvin scales meet at -273.15°C (0K = 0°R)
- Space oddity: Some Apollo-era lunar equipment manuals still specify temperatures in Rankine
- Culinary crossover: High-end sous vide recipes sometimes use Rankine for precision thermal control
- Scale siblings: Rankine relates to Fahrenheit exactly as Kelvin relates to Celsius
- Niche survival: Only 12 U.S. universities still teach Rankine as a primary scale in engineering
FAQ
Rankine is primarily used in engineering systems in the U.S., especially for thermodynamics. If you're working with legacy American industrial equipment or aerospace systems, you might encounter this scale.
Both are absolute temperature scales starting at absolute zero, but Rankine uses Fahrenheit-sized degrees (1°R = 1°F), while Kelvin uses Celsius-sized degrees (1K = 1°C).
Its use has declined since the 1970s, but you'll still find it in some U.S.-based engineering fields, particularly older mechanical systems and certain aerospace applications.
Add 491.67 to the Celsius temperature after multiplying by 9/5. Or just use our calculator above for instant results!
Absolutely! The Rankine scale can handle all temperatures down to absolute zero (-273.15°C converts to 0°R). Our tool works with any value you need.