Convert Temperature from degrees Celsius to degrees Rankine (celsius to rankine)

degree Celsius to degree Rankine Conversion Formula

Example

Let's convert 5 degree Celsius (C) to degree Rankine (R).

Using the formula:

Therefore, 5 degree Celsius (C) is equal to 500.67 degree Rankine (R).

What is a degree Celsius (°C)?

A degree Celsius (°C) is one of the most common units for measuring temperature around the world. As a key part of the metric system, it's used in everything from daily weather forecasts to scientific research. It offers a straightforward and rational method for gauging the temperature of an object. The plural version is degrees Celsius.

Why Is Celsius Based on Water's Freezing and Boiling Points?

The Celsius scale is cleverly based on the physical properties of water. This relationship to a familiar substance makes it very easy to understand. Let's break it down simply:

• 0 °C is set as the freezing point of water.
• 100 °C is set as the boiling point of water.

This perfect 100-degree interval between freezing and boiling is why it was initially called a "centigrade" scale (from "centi-" meaning 100). This straightforward system is the reason Celsius is the standard for temperature measurement in most countries.

Who Invented the Celsius Scale (And Was It Backwards)?

In 1742, the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius introduced his temperature scale, but with a surprising twist—it was upside down! He originally set 100° as the freezing point of water and 0° as its boiling point.

It was only after his death that the scale was flipped to the familiar version we use today, making it far more logical. This change is often credited to fellow scientist Carl Linnaeus.

How to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit and Kelvin

Because Celsius is a global standard, knowing how to convert it to other scales, such as Fahrenheit (°F) and Kelvin (K), is useful. Here are the simple formulas to do it:

• Celsius to Fahrenheit (°F):
  • Formula: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32
  • This scale is primarily used in the United States. For example, a pleasant 20 °C day is 68 °F.
• Celsius to Kelvin (K):
  • Formula: K = °C + 273.15
  • Kelvin is the official SI base unit for temperature and is mainly used in science. Note that Kelvin does not use the "degree" symbol.

What Is the Rankine Temperature Scale (°R)?

The Rankine scale (°R) is a temperature measurement system built on absolute zero, much like the Kelvin scale. However, Rankine is specifically designed to work with the Fahrenheit system. Think of it as the Fahrenheit version of Kelvin, used primarily by engineers in the United States.

Why Is Rankine an Absolute Temperature Scale?

The Rankine scale is an absolute temperature scale, meaning its starting point—0 °R—is absolute zero. This is the coldest possible temperature in the universe, where all atomic and molecular motion stops completely.

Unlike scales such as Celsius and Fahrenheit, which have arbitrary zero points, absolute scales begin at true zero. This distinction is vital in science and engineering, particularly when a calculation requires dividing one temperature by another.

How to Convert Fahrenheit to Rankine

Since Fahrenheit and Rankine share the same degree size, a change of 1°F is equivalent to a shift in 1°R.

To convert Fahrenheit (°F) to Rankine (°R), add 459.67 to the Fahrenheit value.

Formula: °R = °F + 459.67

Example: Water freezes at 32 °F. To find this on the Rankine scale, you would calculate: 32 + 459.67 = 491.67 °R

Rankine is an Absolute Temperature Scale

The Rankine scale is an absolute temperature scale that is comparable to the Kelvin scale. Its zero point, 0 °R, represents absolute zero, which is the theoretical temperature where all molecular movement comes to a halt.

Unlike relative scales such as Fahrenheit or Celsius, which have arbitrary zero points (like the freezing point of water), Rankine starts from a true fundamental zero.

Where Is the Rankine Scale Used?

You will almost exclusively find the Rankine scale in engineering and thermodynamics fields within the United States.

Many scientific laws, especially those related to gases and energy efficiency (such as the Ideal Gas Law), require an absolute temperature to yield accurate results.

Rankine allows engineers working with imperial units (feet, pounds, Fahrenheit) to perform these critical calculations without first converting everything to Kelvin, which is the absolute scale for the metric system. It streamlines their workflow by keeping all units consistent.

Converting To and From Rankine

Rankine's arithmetic is deliberately simple, because it shares its degree size with Fahrenheit exactly as Kelvin shares its degree size with Celsius.

• °R = °F + 459.67
• °F = °R − 459.67
• °R = K × 1.8
• K = °R / 1.8

Two consequences follow. First, a difference of one degree Rankine and one degree Fahrenheit are the same interval, so any formula involving a temperature change can be carried between the scales untouched. Second, absolute zero is 0 °R = −459.67 °F, and water freezes at 491.67 °R.

By convention the scale is written without the degree sign in modern usage — 100 R, not 100 °R — matching the way Kelvin is written.

degree Celsius to degree Rankine Conversion Table

Here are some quick reference conversions from degree Celsius (C) to degree Rankine (R):