[ltp] how to start with thinkpad T60?

[James Knott]

Mario Butter wrote:
> Actually, the original Celsius scale was based on the freezing and
> boiling points of water. However, these vary depending on atmospheric
> pressure, so the original scale is calibrated pretty much as
> accurately as Fahrenheit. Also, the original Kelvin scale was based on
> the *assumed* point of absolute zero, and used the same unit value as
> Celsius. It was not until fairly recently (1954) that a fairly
> concrete definition for the Kelvin scale was chosen - the triple point
> of water (TPW) - and this was "assigned" the value of 273.16 Kelvin.
> However, since TPW has some fluctuation in measurement, you cannot say
> that either Celsius or Kelvin is tied a fundamental constant. There is
> a current discussion in the SI community about tying Kelvin to a
> fundamental constant, but no agreement has been reached.
>
> And nothing you have said indicates that using Fahrenheit is somehow
> "backward." At best, since you claim that accuracy is not issue and
> there is no fundamental constant as reference, you're arguing that
> anyone who thinks differently from you is "backward."
>
>   
Units in science can be redefined as better data and measurement 
techniques appear.  Even back in the 18th century, air pressure was 
specified for determining the freezing point of water in Celcius.  
Fahrenheit is "backward" because like every other measure in the 
imperial system, it is largely arbitrary and there is nothing that can 
tie it, in a coherent system to anything else.  The metric system is 
design so the various measures are related to other measures.  My 
argument was that either system can be just as precise and accurate as 
the other, in that it is the measuring device that determines the 
accuracy.  The scale used is simply for reading the value.  There is 
nothing that makes Fahrenheit more accurate, as some people have 
claimed.  Now, having said all that, try going into a physics class and 
running all the various experiments, using both metric and imperial 
systems.  Then tell me which one is easier to work in.  Try scaling over 
the various ranges of length, weight etc.  In the metric system, 
everything relates to powers of ten, so scaling simply means moving the 
decimal point or changing the value of an exponent.  You don't have to 
worry about converting from pounds to ounces to tons or inches to feet 
to furlongs etc.  It is a measurement system and not a collection of 
arbitrary measures.

> On Feb 17, 2008 2:29 PM, James Knott <james.knott@rogers.com> wrote:
>   
>> Mario Butter wrote:
>>     
>>> Oh, and BTW, can you explain why the Celcius scale is better than the
>>> Fahrenheit scale?
>>>
>>>       
>> Well, as I understand it, there is no definite method known, that
>> Fahrenheit used to calibrate his scale, other than noting things he
>> thought were hot or cold etc.  On the other hand the Celcius scale has
>> precisely defined points, based on the Kelvin scale, which in turn
>> relates to temperature above absolute zero.  The 0 & 100 degree points
>> originally referred to the freezing and boiling points of water, under
>> specified test conditions.  Those points have been slightly revised to
>> bring the scale in line with Kelvin.  Further, virtually all of the
>> measurement systems used in science are tied together through the metric
>> system, precisely defined and traceable back to some fundamental
>> constants.  No such relationship exists in imperial measure, which often
>> varies around the world. i.e the U.S. and British gallons are different
>> sizes.  There are different miles, depending on who does the measuring
>> and so on.
>>
>> As far as the marks on the side of a thermometer go, there's no
>> difference, as the precision of either can be extended simply by using
>> more digits, provided the thermometer is capable of supporting that
>> precision.  But to simply say the Fahrenheit scale is more accurate,
>> because there are more degrees on it is absolute nonsense.
>>
>>
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>>     
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