TWICE AS HOT
TWICE AS HOT
(OP)
Time and time again I hear on radio and TV phrases such as “twice as hot”. I even read it in books which should know better.
Often the topic is the weather – it’s 10 degrees in Newcastle but twice as hot in London”. Meaning what exactly? 20 degrees?
But if Newcastle is 10 Celsius, it’s 50 Fahrenheit. Is London 20 Celsius or 100 Fahrenheit? Quite a difference! And what if Newcastle is at minus 5 C?
I guess you can almost justify the expression if the temperature is on an absolute scale but I don’t see many Kelvins on the morning weather forecast. It doesn’t work with any artificial scale such as the ones used in everyday speak.
So, prizes for the most erudite publication to use such a an expression?
Must stop and turn on the aircon. See if I can halve the temperature in here.
Cheers - John
Often the topic is the weather – it’s 10 degrees in Newcastle but twice as hot in London”. Meaning what exactly? 20 degrees?
But if Newcastle is 10 Celsius, it’s 50 Fahrenheit. Is London 20 Celsius or 100 Fahrenheit? Quite a difference! And what if Newcastle is at minus 5 C?
I guess you can almost justify the expression if the temperature is on an absolute scale but I don’t see many Kelvins on the morning weather forecast. It doesn’t work with any artificial scale such as the ones used in everyday speak.
So, prizes for the most erudite publication to use such a an expression?
Must stop and turn on the aircon. See if I can halve the temperature in here.
Cheers - John





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StephenA
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Then I would have found it twice as confusing...
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There is a cute little program here which tells us the relative temperature of ambience with good remarks. (check under heat index)
http://hvacwebtech.com/misctools2.htm
This program is based on ASHRAE's comfort zone.
In both the cases, (Harrisj's and JDana's) hotness is highly subjective
Regards,
RE: TWICE AS HOT
I'm looking for a reference or a 'scale' of perceived temperatures and safe temps for physical contact -
In other words when the old maintenance guy puts his hand on the part and "Darn thing's too hot....better get it rebuilt" I'd like to show them that it is really only 100F or so.
Thanks!
Keep the wheels on the ground
Bob
showshine@aol.com
RE: TWICE AS HOT
You are looking for ASTM C1055 and C1057
Standard Guide for Heated System Surface Conditions That Produce Contact Burn Injuries
and
Standard Practice for
Determination of Skin Contact Temperature from Heated
Surfaces Using A Mathematical Model and
Thermesthesiometer
RE: TWICE AS HOT
That's a difficult one. A lot depends on the heat content of the item you're touching, and any insulating layer (a coat of paint can make quite a difference).
There's also the variation of skin thickness (ends of fingers have thick calloused skin) and sensitivity (lips are particularly sensitive!)
So you may be able to pick up a piece of dry wood at 100C but a chunk of steel at 50C may feel excruciatingly hot.
Also, mechanics and chefs have 'asbestos fingers' - they've singed themselves so often that their nerve endings have been frazzled.
For engineering applications, it's difficult to tell the difference between 90C and 110C.
You can now get optical thermometers for not much money which give a direct non-contacting reading - they're pretty good.
Cheers - John
RE: TWICE AS HOT
The traditional definition of "lot" applied to a parcel of land. Therefore, "lots" meant many parcels, hence a large quantity. It follows then, that "a" lot, e.g., "one" lot, is a smaller quantity than "lots;" but in many cases, "a lot" implies a large or larger quantity than its plural.
TTFN
RE: TWICE AS HOT