If the temperature is zero outside....?

Question

...today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be? ;)

Answer 1

Most people will probably tell you zero but this is wrong - you can't multiply temperature as it's not measured on a fixed scale.

Amy measurement has to be relative to something - a distance of 0 means there is no distance, a weight of 0 means there is no weight, a temperature of 0 does not mean there is no temperature.

For temperature to be relative it has to be compared to a fixed point and in respect of temperature this would be absolute zero - the coldest possible temperature - which is 273.15 centigrade below freezing. The Kelvin temperature scale starts at absolute zero and therefore, unlike centigrade or Fahrenheit it is a relative scale. It is therefore possible to multiply temperatures on the Kelvin scale but because it starts from the coldest possible temperature it's not possible for something to be twice as cold (i.e. it can't be colder than the coldest thing possible), it can only be twice as warm.

The centigrade / Celsius scale is calibrated by taking 0 as the freezing point of pure water under standard physical conditions and 100 as the boiling point so all measurements using the centigrade / Celsius scale are taken in relation to the freezing and boiling points of water.

If your temperature outside is 0 centigrade this is equal to 273.15 Kelvin and if the temperature was double that tomorrow then the temperature would be 546.3 Kelvin. As 1 Kelvin is exactly the same as 1 centigrade then tomorrows temperature would be 273.15 centigrade - a bit too warm for my liking.

Answer 2

Depends if the temperature is absolute zero which is -273 degrees centigrade or -459 degrees Fahrenheit then these temperatures cannot be breached.

the Kelvin scale is a representation of the centigrade scale only using the initial constant which is absolute zero as the starting point.

This would purport to redefine what the original answer is as everything relating to human is referred to using water as its main concept I.e colories is the ability to raise 1 molecule of water by 1 degree centigrade, this would reaffirm that everything rungs off the same scale.

Answer 3

If its 0 Fahrenheit I'd say -32 degrees.