What is the Correct Calculation for Jack's Homemade Temperature Scale?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Betadine
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Calculation
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves Jack's homemade temperature scale, where he records mercury levels at two reference points: an ice-water bath and boiling water. The task is to determine the Celsius temperature corresponding to a specific reading on Jack's thermometer.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the validity of the problem statement and the completeness of the provided equation. There is an attempt to clarify the original poster's calculations and assumptions regarding the temperature scale.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants questioning the clarity of the problem statement and the original poster's equation. Some guidance has been offered regarding the interpretation of the equation, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach or solution.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of potential issues with the problem being recycled without proper proofreading, which may affect the clarity and accuracy of the information provided.

Betadine
Messages
15
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Jack decides to create his own temperature scale. He places an uncalibrated mercury thermometer into an ice-water bath and records the mercury level as 20.0S. He then places the same thermometer above boiling water and records the mercury level as 170S. Finally, he divides the distance between these two levels into 150 equal lengths.

Calculate the reading on a Celsius thermometer when Jack's thermometer reads 95S.

Homework Equations



I used temperature, T = (xT - x0)/(x100 - x0) x 100.

The Attempt at a Solution



My answer is 50C. But the correct answer is 75C. Can anyone kindly help please?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Is the problem statement exactly as you've transcribed it?
 
By Bystander! Unfortunately, yes. Thanks for replying!
 
Your equation (2. Relevant Eqtns.) is incomplete/ambiguous, but your answer is what I get. This has the "look" of problems that are re-cycled from year to year, or class to class, and frequently posted/assigned without proper proof-reading whenever the numbers are changed.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Betadine

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
19K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
7K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
10K
  • · Replies 152 ·
6
Replies
152
Views
11K
Replies
7
Views
5K