Convert Newton to Wedgwood easily.

Ever wondered how 18th-century scientists measured heat for experiments or how pottery masters gauged kiln temperatures before modern thermometers? The answer lies in forgotten scales like Newton and Wedgwood. While you won't use them to check today's weather, converting between these historical units offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of measurement. Let's explore how to bridge these two very different worlds of thermal measurement.

Unit definitions

What is a newton (°N)?

The Newton temperature scale was proposed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1701. Yes, the apple guy! He used linseed oil's freezing point (0°N) and water boiling (33°N) as references. Symbol: °N. Primarily used in early scientific research, it divided the range between freezing and boiling into 33 equal parts. One quirk: Newton assigned room temperature as 12°N, which he called "heat of summer" in his notes.

What is a wedgwood (°W)?

Created by Josiah Wedgwood (of pottery fame) in 1782, this scale measured extreme heat for ceramic kilns. Symbol: °W. Each degree represented the shrinkage of a specific clay sample. The first degree (1°W) corresponded to ~670°C, with each subsequent degree adding 130°C. Fun fact: Wedgwood tested temperatures by pulling out clay samples with iron tongs, hardly OSHA-approved by today's standards!

Conversion formula

Converting between these scales requires two steps. First, convert Newton to Celsius:
°C = °N × (100/33)

Then convert Celsius to Wedgwood:
°W = (°C - 577) / 130

Combine them for direct conversion:
°W = (°N × 3.0303 - 577) / 130

For reverse calculations (Wedgwood to Newton):
°N = (°W × 130 + 577) × 0.33

Example calculations

Example 1: Convert 20°N to Wedgwood
20 × (100/33) ≈ 60.61°C
(60.61 - 577)/130 ≈ -3.97°W

Example 2: Convert 5°W to Newton
(5 × 130 + 577) × 0.33
(650 + 577) = 1227
1227 × 0.33 ≈ 405°N

Wait, 405°N? But Newton's scale only went to 33°N! This shows how Wedgwood measured much higher temperatures than Newton ever contemplated.

Conversion tables

Newton to Wedgwood

Wedgwood to Newton

From apples to clay pots: A thermal history

Isaac Newton's temperature work gets overshadowed by his laws of motion, but his 1701 scale pioneered quantitative heat mesurement. Using linseed oil instead of mercury, he laid groundwork for future instruments. Meanwhile, across the English Channel, Josiah Wedgwood faced a practical problem: how to consistently fire Queen Charlotte's porcelain teacups without a reliable way to measure kiln heat. His solution? Create a scale based on how much specially formulated clay discs shrank at specific temperatures. While wildly different in approach, both systems reflected their creators' needs: one academic, the other industrial.

Interesting facts

1. Newton almost used beer instead of linseed oil for his scale, but found it froze inconsistently
2. Wedgwood's clay pyrometer discs were so accurate, they remained in use until the 1840s
3. 33°N (water's boiling point) equals exactly 100°C, making conversion to Celsius straightforward
4. A single Wedgwood degree spans more temperature than Newton's entire scale
5. Modern recreation of Wedgwood's experiments show ±15°C variation in his measurements

FAQ