Convert Newton to Rankine easily.

If you’ve ever stumbled across an old scientific text mentioning the Newton temperature scale, you might’ve wondered how it translates to modern units like Rankine. Whether you’re restoring vintage engineering data or just satisfying a curiosity, converting Newton (°N) to Rankine (°R) isn’t as daunting as it seems. Let’s break it down step by step, with real-world examples and a dash of history to keep things lively.

Unit definitions

What is a newton (°N)?

The Newton scale, proposed by Sir Isaac Newton around 1700, was one of the earliest attempts to standardize temperature measurement. Newton used linseed oil thermometers and defined 0°N as water’s freezing point, with 33°N as its boiling point. Though obsolete today, it’s a fascinating artifact of scientific history.

• Symbol: °N
• Common uses: Historical scientific texts, early thermodynamics experiments
• Definition: 0°N = freezing water, 33°N = boiling water (at sea level)

What is a rankine (°R)?

The Rankine scale, named after Scottish engineer William Rankine, is an absolute temperature system using Fahrenheit degrees. Zero Rankine (-459.67°F) is absolute zero, making it useful in thermodynamics and engineering, particularly in the U.S.

• Symbol: °R
• Common uses: Aerospace engineering, thermodynamics, U.S. mechanical systems
• Definition: °R = °F + 459.67 (absolute zero = 0°R)

Conversion formula

To convert Newton to Rankine:
°R = (°N × 60⁄11) + 491.67

Breaking it down:

1. Convert Newton to Celsius: °C = °N × 100⁄33
2. Convert Celsius to Rankine: °R = (°C × 9⁄5) + 491.67
3. Combine the steps: °R = (°N × 60⁄11) + 491.67

Example calculations

1. Convert 33°N to Rankine:
   33 × (60/11) = 180
   180 + 491.67 = 671.67°R
2. Convert 5.5°N to Rankine:
   5.5 × (60/11) = 30
   30 + 491.67 = 521.67°R

Conversion tables

Newton to rankine

Rankine to newton

From linseed oil to rocket science

Isaac Newton’s foray into temperature measurement was as unconventional as his laws of motion. Using a linseed oil thermometer, he divided the scale between freezing and boiling water into 33 equal parts. Fast forward to the 19th century, William Rankine sought an absolute temperature system compatible with Fahrenheit, which was already entrenched in American engineering. While Newton’s scale faded, Rankine’s became a staple in thermodynamics textbooks. Today, converting between the two is like translating a historical manuscript into modern jargon. A nod to how far we’ve come.

Interesting facts

1. Newton’s thermometer used linseed oil because it expanded more visibly than water.
2. The Rankine cycle, a model for steam engines, relies on the Rankine scale for efficiency calculations.
3. 0°N isn’t absolute zero, but 0°R is (-459.67°F).
4. Newton’s scale was referenced in early chemistry texts but never widely adopted.
5. The U.S. Space Shuttle program used Rankine for certain propulsion calculations.

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