Convert Fahrenheit to Rankine in one click

Ever wondered how jet engine designers or HVAC engineers work with temperature in imperial units? That's where Rankine comes in, the absolute temperature scale that keeps all calculations in the Fahrenheit family. While most folks know about Kelvin and Celsius, Rankine remains the unsung hero of thermodynamic equations in countries using imperial measurements.

Unit definitions

What is a fahrenheit (°F)?

• Description: The everyday temperature scale for weather reports and cooking in the United States
• Symbol: °F
• Common uses: Weather forecasting, oven temperatures, medical thermometers
• Definition: Freezing point of water = 32°F, boiling point = 212°F at standard pressure

What is a rankine (°R)?

• Description: The absolute temperature scale matching Fahrenheit's degree size
• Symbol: °R
• Common uses: Thermodynamic calculations, power plant engineering, aerospace systems
• Definition: Absolute zero = 0°R (-459.67°F), with degrees equal in size to Fahrenheit

Conversion formula

The simple equation connecting these scales:

°R = °F + 459.67

Want to go the other way? Just rearrange:

°F = °R - 459.67

Example calculations

1. Converting human body temperature: 98.6°F + 459.67 = 558.27°R
2. Oven baking conversion: 350°F (typical cookie temp) + 459.67 = 809.67°R

Conversion tables

Fahrenheit to Rankine

Rankine to Fahrenheit

Historical background

The Fahrenheit scale came first, developed by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724. His mercury thermometer design and reproducible temperature points revolutionized measurement. Rankine arrived much later. Scottish engineer William John Macquorn Rankine proposed his absolute scale in 1859, creating an imperial counterpart to Kelvin's 1848 metric system version.

Funny thing, many engineering textbooks from teh early 20th century used Rankine extensively, but global standardization efforts later pushed industries toward SI units. Still, you'll find Rankine in older US technical documents and some aerospace specifications.

Interesting facts

1. The Rankine scale has the same zero point as Fahrenheit's original "brine solution" temperature (-459.67°F)
2. Saturn's moon Titan has a surface temperature of about 94°R (-365°F)
3. No commercial thermometers display Rankine – it's purely for calculation purposes
4. The space shuttle's main engines operated at temps around 3,500°R during liftoff
5. Rankine cycles (using water/steam) generate about 80% of the world's electricity

FAQ