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Half as Hot (mander.xyz)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] 36 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I use this as an example for interval vs ratio; you can't halve Celsius because it's an interval scale where zero is arbitrary. Kelvin is ratio as it has an absolute zero-- you very much can halve it and doom near the entire planet next summer

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  • [+] -27 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    arguably setting zero to absolute zero is just as arbitrary

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  • [+] 44 points 2 years ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)
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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago*

    Every decision is arbitrary in some way. We, as humans, defined it would be better to arrange the periodic table a certain way, based on characteristics of the elements, but the characteristics chosen are arbitrary. We could've just chosen a different set for ordering, like alphabetical.

    Tho, that's a correct (IIRC) yet weird usage of "arbitrary", and since language exists to talk, not to be correct, we might as well not use this definition of arbitrary and stick to what conveys information better.

    Edit: I'm wrong! perhaps "correct" was the word I meant to say, not sure tho.

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  • [+] -25 points 2 years ago (5 children)
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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    What? What context? The scale is the same as Celsius which is derived from the properties of water. And 0K is when there is absolutely no heat energy in the thing being measured. There is no context where this is not the case.

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  • [+] -23 points 2 years ago (2 children)
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  • [–] 8 points 2 years ago*

    People don't use Kelvin when referring to seasons. Sure, there's plenty of ambiguity if someone says it's 32° out without specifying the units, and you can infer from context, but that has nothing to do with Kelvin starting at absolute zero. Saying "degrees" immediately rules out Kelvin as a unit.

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  • [–] 12 points 2 years ago

    The context of.. reading the fabric of the universe?

    You're right, that is totally irrelevant to.. a physicist.

    I see you're trolling, so I look forward to your condescending response, but to be successfully condescending you have to be at least somewhat convincing in displaying intelligence, if you can manage that then this whole argumentative act will go much better and people will get much angrier.

    TLDR, Try the same troll tactic but with less incompetence for better results.

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  • [–] -3 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    The scale doesn't matter, double is always double. No matter if expressed in 1m is half of 2m, or 3ft is half of 6ft. Same is true for temperature, als long as the zero point is fixed.

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  • [+] 3 points 2 years ago (1 child)
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