Convert Celsius to Wedgwood easily.
(1 °C + 135.77) ÷ 130.77 = 1.046 °W
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Ever wondered how 18th-century potters measured kiln temperatures without modern tools? That's where the Wedgwood scale comes in, a fascinating relic from the dawn of industrial ceramics. While you'll never see Wedgwood units on your kitchen thermometer, understanding this historical system offers a unique glimpse into the challenges of early temperature measurement. Let's explore how to bridge the gap between Josiah Wedgwood's clay-based scale and our familiar Celsius system.
Unit definitions
What is a Celsius (°C)?
Description: The Celsius scale measures temperature where 0°C marks water's freezing point and 100°C its boiling point at sea level.
Symbol: °C
Common uses: Weather reporting, cooking, scientific research
Definition: 1/100th of the interval between water's freezing and boiling points
What is a Wedgwood (°W)?
Description: An obsolete temperature unit based on clay shrinkage during firing, developed by pottery pioneer Josiah Wedgwood.
Symbol: °W
Common uses: Historical ceramic production, kiln temperature control
Definition: 1°W represents approximately 130.77°C above the scale's artificial zero point
Conversion formula
The mathematical relationship between these scales is:
°W = (°C + 135.77) / 130.77
To convert back:
°C = (°W × 130.77) - 135.77
Example calculations
- Converting 1000°C to Wedgwood:
(1000 + 135.77) / 130.77 = 8.68°W - Converting 15°W to Celsius:
(15 × 130.77) - 135.77 = 1825.8°C
Conversion tables
Celsius to Wedgwood
| Celsius (°C) | Wedgwood (°W) |
|---|---|
| 100 | 1.80 |
| 300 | 3.33 |
| 500 | 4.86 |
| 700 | 6.39 |
| 900 | 7.92 |
| 1100 | 9.45 |
| 1300 | 10.98 |
| 1500 | 12.51 |
Wedgwood to Celsius
| Wedgwood (°W) | Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| 1 | -5.90 |
| 3 | 256.41 |
| 5 | 518.72 |
| 7 | 781.03 |
| 9 | 1043.34 |
| 11 | 1305.65 |
| 13 | 1567.96 |
| 15 | 1830.27 |
From clay shrinkage to digital displays
The story of temperature measurement took an unusual turn in 1782 when Josiah Wedgwood faced a problem that would make any modern engineer sweat. His pottery kilns reached temperatures that melted conventional mercury thermometers, leaving him literally in the dark about his firing process. Wedgwood's solution? He created small clay cylinders that shrunk predictably when heated, establishing the first practical pyrometer.
This innovation wasn't just about making better teacups. The Wedgwood scale enabled consistent production of Jasperware, the iconic blue pottery that made his company famous worldwide. While later scientists found inaccuracies in his method (the shrinkage rate wasn't perfectly linear with temperature), it remained the best option for industrial heat measurement until Daniel Fahrenheit's mercury thermometer improvements in the 1820s.
Interesting facts
- Wedgwood's original "thermometer" consisted of small clay pieces that shrank by 1/240th of their length per degree
- The highest temperature measured using Wedgwood's method was approximately 32,000°W, though modern estimates suggest this equates to about 1580°C
- Josiah Wedgwood never knew the exact Celsius equivalents of his scale, the conversions were calculated posthumously
- Some surviving Wedgwood pyrometers are still functional and occasionally demonstrated in museum workshops
- The scale's artificial zero point was set at red heat visibility, roughly 580°C in modern terms
FAQ
Josiah Wedgwood created it to measure kiln temperatures for pottery, as standard thermometers couldn't withstand extreme heat.
No, it was replaced by more accurate systems like Celsius and Fahrenheit in the 19th century.
Conversions are approximate due to the Wedgwood scale's reliance on clay shrinkage rather than exact thermal expansion.
1°W equals approximately 130.77°C above the scale's starting point, which Wedgwood considered 'zero'.
They're primarily referenced in historical contexts or specialized ceramic studies, not modern science.