Is Temperature Twice as Hot as Yesterday?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kushal
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Temperature
Click For Summary
The discussion centers on the misconception that a temperature of 40°C is twice as hot as 20°C. Participants suggest using absolute temperature scales, like Kelvin, to clarify the concept of "twice as hot." The importance of understanding temperature in terms of energy rather than just numerical values is emphasized. The conversation highlights a common confusion regarding temperature comparisons. Properly converting temperatures to an absolute scale resolves the misunderstanding.
Kushal
Messages
438
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement



Comment on the statement 'Today the temperature is 40\circC and yesterday it was 20\circC so it is twice as hot today as it was yesterday.'

The Attempt at a Solution



i feel that it is wrong to say that, although i think a body at 40\circC is twice as hot as a body at 20\circC. i guess I'm missing something...

any hint? thnks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Try expressing the temperatures in other units (Fahrenheit, Kelvin).
 
ooo yeah... i should use the absolute scale right?!

i don't know why it was not obvious at the beginning... thnks:)
 

Thread 'Magnitude of buoyant force in fluids of different densities'

The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?
View full post »

Similar threads

Thermodynamics of a Heat Engine - (First/Second Law)
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
674
Change in radiation with temperature
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Heat needed to expand a circular metal plate
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Internal energy of an ideal gas as a function of temperature
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Simple coefficient of performance question
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Final temperature for two blocks of iron placed in contact
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Optimizing Hall Voltage Accuracy: Temperature Variation Tolerance Calculation
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Modeling a kongming lantern (sky lantern)
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Calculating Energy and Mass in Espresso Machine and Analyzing Cooling of Coffee
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
8K
How Does the Brightness and Temperature of l Carinae Change with Its Pulsations?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
1K