Convert Wedgwood to Newton temperature scales easily.

Ever wondered how 18th-century scientists and potters measured extreme heat without modern tools? The Wedgwood and Newton temperature scales offer a glimpse into the ingenuity of pre-industrial measurement. While these units aren’t used today, converting between them connects us to a time when temperature was as much an art as a science. Let’s explore how to bridge these two historical systems.

Unit definitions

What is a Wedgwood (°W)?

The Wedgwood scale, invented by Josiah Wedgwood in 1782, measured kiln temperatures for pottery. It was based on the shrinkage of small clay cylinders. Each "degree" Wedgwood (°W) represented approximately 130°C above 530°C, though its accuracy was debated. Symbol: °W. Common uses: ceramics, metallurgy.

What is a Newton (°N)?

Sir Isaac Newton proposed his temperature scale in 1701. He used linseed oil’s expansion properties, assigning 0°N to freezing water and 33°N to boiling water. This linear scale preceded Celsius and Fahrenheit. Symbol: °N. Common uses: early scientific experiments.

Conversion formula

Converting Wedgwood to Newton requires two steps. First, convert °W to Celsius:
°C = (°W × 130) – 150.
Then, convert Celsius to Newton:
°N = °C × 0.33.
Combined formula:
°N = ((°W × 130) – 150) × 0.33.

Example calculations

1. Converting 3°W to Newton:
   ((3 × 130) – 150) × 0.33 = (390 – 150) × 0.33 = 240 × 0.33 = 79.2°N
2. Converting 7°W to Newton:
   ((7 × 130) – 150) × 0.33 = (910 – 150) × 0.33 = 760 × 0.33 = 250.8°N

Conversion tables

Wedgwood to Newton

Newton to Wedgwood

From kilns to laboratories: A historical journey

Josiah Wedgwood’s scale emerged from practical necessity. Potters needed to avoid underfired ceramics, which crumbled, or overfired ones that melted. His clay shrinkage method, while innovative, had flaws. Variations in clay composition led to inconsistent mesurements. Meanwhile, Newton’s scale reflected his broader quest to quantify nature. He experimented with linseed oil because it expanded uniformly, a concept later refined by Fahrenheit’s mercury thermometers.

Interesting facts....

1. Wedgwood’s pyrometer (temperature tool) was showcased at the Royal Society in 1782.
2. Newton’s scale divided temperature into 12 “degrees of heat” before settling on 33 intervals.
3. One °W roughly equals 130°C, making 10°W equivalent to 1,300°C.
4. Modern recreations show Wedgwood’s measurements were often 50°C off actual temperatures.
5. Newton never used his scale publicly; it was published posthumously in 1701.

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