# ­xkcd thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [May 28, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574 "2020-05-28T00:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 179
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3563 "2024-10-23T01:24:33Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I remember when a 1 F capacitor was obnoxiously large, like bigger than a soda can. You’re younger than I thought, then. My standard for a farad is garbage-can-sized. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3564 "2024-10-23T01:29:42Z")
My high school science teacher had a 1 F electrolytic in the back room, locked with all the chemicals (mid 90s). I’m wondering now if that was for my safety (like me, personally). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3565 "2024-10-23T01:37:22Z")
Of course, it does make a difference what voltage you’re talking about… and since capacitor volume goes with the _square_ of voltage, it’s easy for them to get crazy-large at higher voltages. A 250 V, 1 F cap would be a monster. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3566 "2024-10-23T01:46:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > > [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > > > I remember when a 1 F capacitor was obnoxiously large, like bigger than a soda can. > > You’re younger than I thought, then. My standard for a farad is garbage-can-sized. That was my reaction. In my HS & college career “1 farad” was like “1 tonne”. IOW a metric fuckload of [whatever]. Physically large, actively dangerous, and stupid expensive. The idea of 1F capacitors the size of baby carrots or less blows my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3567 "2024-10-23T04:38:19Z")
It is humbling to wander into these discussions triggered by Randall’s sense of humour. I learn how much I don’t know about, or understand, listening to you smart scienciticians. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3568 "2024-10-23T05:24:28Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > All of which brings up an interesting point / side diversion. To wit: What is _the_ most logical temperature scale we can come up with? The one that all society and science should adopt forthwith? There isn’t one, because the best scale depends on what you are using it for. If you are using it to describe the weather, a scale that gives normal outdoor temps small numbers that look different across the range of normal outdoor temps is good. Both Celsius and Fahrenheit do a decent job of this, and i think Fahrenheit is slightly better. If you are using it to describe cooking temperature, ditto, and i think Celsius has a small advantage. The boiling point of water is an important reference for cooking, so it’s good that it’s highlighted. If you are doing physics, something that starts at absolute zero has obvious advantages. Fahrenheit is very human-centric. Zero was set at the lowest temp he could reliably create (by salting ice) and 100 was his body temperature. (He had a fever.) Celsius is obviously set around water, which is one of the most important substances to humans, so it’s indirectly human-centric as well. That’s why they have both caught on and are popular with the people who are used to them. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3569 "2024-10-23T15:42:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > ISTM in light of current knowledge, any temp scale not defining its zero point as absolute zero is utterly and unsalvageably flawed. So far so easy, For scales to be used in scientific contexts, sure. For scales to be used in weather reports and routine conversations about the weather, what on earth (literally) use is a scale most of which covers temperatures that will never be applicable; or at any rate never applicable while anybody’s alive to need a temperature scale? For weather conversations, Fahrenheit is more precise than Celsius; though I grant that most people only want to know the temperature within two or three degrees anyway. – or what @puzzlegal just said. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > There isn’t one, because the best scale depends on what you are using it for. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3570 "2024-10-23T17:21:06Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > ISTM in light of current knowledge, any temp scale not defining its zero point as absolute zero is utterly and unsalvageably flawed. So far so easy, > > For scales to be used in scientific contexts, sure. Just like we use light-nanoseconds and exa-Joules to talk about peoples heights and weights. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3571 "2024-10-23T19:54:46Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What is _the_ most logical temperature scale we can come up with? > …zero point as absolute zero… > …unit size… 1 gram 1 joule = 1 degree method. > …the defining substance should be hydrogen not water. Now that you’ve posted this, you need to hurry and publish the paper and receive your PhD (and as many public accolades as you can stand) before someone here steals it! I’m actually serious. It’s time for universal standards, and yours makes sense! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3572 "2024-10-23T19:56:23Z")
[![](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/standards.png) ](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/standards.png) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3573 "2024-10-23T20:03:50Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Now that you’ve posted this, you need to hurry and publish the paper and receive your PhD (and as many public accolades as you can stand) before someone here steals it! > > I’m actually serious. It’s time for universal standards, and yours makes sense! Not my idea. I shorthanded the explanation in my post 3557. Credit for prior art goes to > [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Kinda dumb that we don’t have a scale where putting one joule into one gram of water raises the temp by one degree. Basically, Kelvin times 4.184. Who not only thought of it, but established copyright an hour before I publicized his idea. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3574 "2024-10-23T23:24:24Z")
> **[RNAWorld](https://xkcd.com/3002/)** > > Disney lore: Canonically, because of how Elsa's abiogenesis powers work, Olaf is an RNA-only organism. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3575 "2024-10-23T23:44:48Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Just like we use light-nanoseconds and exa-Joules to talk about peoples heights and weights. > 😉 I don’t know about you, but I weigh ~65 terananograms. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3576 "2024-10-23T23:52:20Z")
> My hair is growing at the rate of 4.6 yoctometers per femtosecond. If you’re quiet, you can hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3577 "2024-10-24T00:45:23Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > though I grant that most people only want to know the temperature within two or three degrees anyway. Speak for yourself. The difference in my house between 71 and 74F is fucking massive! One is comfy tucked-in sleep, one is on top of the covers sweating my ass off. 3C differences would have me getting a hotel room. On the other hand, maybe I’m unusually picky. Who’s to say? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3578 "2024-10-24T00:57:35Z")
78 is comfy indoors. 77 indoors is parka weather. I care about the last degree. A lot. I don’t know too many people who are otherwise. Although each has their personal set point they like where 1 degree different is bad. I suppose it majorly depends on where you grew up. In places with huge temp variations, you get used to the idea that “the 40’s” is all about the same. In places where the annual record highs and lows are 10 degrees apart, folks are much more chuffed about minor variations. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3579 "2024-10-24T01:02:58Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > though I grant that most people only want to know the temperature within two or three degrees anyway. > > Speak for yourself. The difference in my house between 71 and 74F is fucking massive! One is comfy tucked-in sleep, one is on top of the covers sweating my ass off. 3C differences would have me getting a hotel room. Since reaching my 60’s, a linear comfortable temperature scale no longer works for me as I can sweat and shiver at the same time. Temperature comfort requires at least a quadratic-degree equation. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3580 "2024-10-24T01:05:16Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I don’t know too many people who are otherwise. I consider anywhere from about 68 F to 82 F to be room temperature. I suspect I could _guess_ the temperature within a degree or two, but it’s totally irrelevant to my comfort level. Even a few degrees outside that range isn’t particularly concerning, though I might put on a hoodie / turn on a fan at the extremes. Is this an age-related thing? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3581 "2024-10-24T01:16:57Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Is this an age-related thing? Probably. I was much more range-tolerant in my younger years. Nowadays, I will adjust the auto-temp in the Jeep by one degree (F) and notice the difference. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3582 "2024-10-24T01:40:16Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I suppose it majorly depends on where you grew up. I grew up in the Tundra of Wisconsin, but more importantly, in an old drafty house with parents whose mantra was “Put on another layer!”. In the evenings you’ll find us watching Only Murders… with fleeces on, and snuggled under wool blankets. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=178) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=180)