# Newton to Rankine (°N to °R)

Source: https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/temperature/newton-scale-to-rankine/

To convert Newton to Rankine, use the formula: R = N x 60/11 + 491.67. The Newton scale is Isaac Newton's rarely-used temperature scale, while the Rankine scale is the absolute Fahrenheit scale used in US thermodynamic engineering. Water freezes at 0 degrees N (491.67 R) and boils at 33 degrees N (671.67 R).

## Formula

°N via Kelvin to °R

## Conversion Table

| Newton (°N) | Rankine (°R) |
|---|---|
| 0 °N | 491.67 °R |
| 1 °N | 497.12454545454 °R |
| 2 °N | 502.5790909091 °R |
| 3 °N | 508.03363636364 °R |
| 5 °N | 518.94272727274 °R |
| 7 °N | 529.85181818182 °R |
| 10 °N | 546.21545454545 °R |
| 12 °N | 557.12454545455 °R |
| 15 °N | 573.48818181819 °R |
| 20 °N | 600.76090909091 °R |
| 25 °N | 628.03363636364 °R |
| 30 °N | 655.30636363636 °R |
| 33 °N | 671.67 °R |
| 50 °N | 764.39727272727 °R |
| 100 °N | 1037.1245454545 °R |

## Units

### Newton (°N)

A temperature scale devised by Isaac Newton around 1700. Water freezes at 0 °N and boils at 33 °N. Not to be confused with the newton unit of force.

### Rankine (°R)

An absolute temperature scale using Fahrenheit-sized degrees. 0 °R equals absolute zero. Used in some US engineering applications, especially thermodynamics.

## Background

The Newton scale was created by Isaac Newton, around 1700, barely adopted beyond his laboratory. The Rankine scale was created by William Rankine, 1859, used in American aerospace and chemical engineering. Converting between them bridges different eras and different measurement philosophies in the history of thermometry.

## Good to Know

The history of temperature measurement is the history of scientific collaboration and competition across borders. The Newton scale (barely adopted beyond his laboratory) and the Rankine scale (used in American aerospace and chemical engineering) represent different national contributions to solving the same fundamental problem: how to assign numbers to the sensation of hot and cold.

## FAQ

### How do you convert Newton to Rankine?

Use the formula R = N x 60/11 + 491.67. At the freezing point of water: 0 N = 491.67 R. At the boiling point: 33 N = 671.67 R.

### When would you need to convert Newton to Rankine?

This conversion is needed when interpreting historical scientific records, comparing temperature data across different measurement traditions, or completing engineering calculations that mix temperature scales from different national standards.

### What are the key reference points for both scales?

Water freezes at 0 N = 491.67 R. Water boils at 33 N = 671.67 R. These two fixed points anchor both scales and provide easy verification of any conversion calculation.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### Have Newton degrees and Rankine degrees ever appeared in the same document?

It is nearly inconceivable. Newton degrees were never used outside Newton's own laboratory experiments around 1700. Rankine degrees are used by American engineers since the 1860s. No document in history would have needed both. Their appearance in the same conversion table is an artifact of comprehensiveness, not necessity.

### Is the Newton-to-Rankine conversion the least useful in this entire converter?

It is certainly a contender for the title. Newton's scale was used by one person for a few years. Rankine is used by a small subset of American engineers. The intersection of people who need both is approximately the empty set. This conversion exists because mathematical completeness demands it, not because anyone ever asked for it.

### If Isaac Newton and William Rankine met, what would they agree on?

Both were brilliant physicists and engineers. They would agree on the laws of thermodynamics, the nature of heat, and the importance of precise measurement. They would disagree on the best starting point for a temperature scale - Newton from an empirical mercury reading, Rankine from thermodynamic absolute zero. Both approaches are valid; Rankine's proved more useful for engineering.

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## See Also

- [Rankine to Newton](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/temperature/rankine-to-newton-scale/)
