kata factor

plural kata factors · alternative Kata factor

1. A conversion factor, constant for a given kata thermometer, used to convert the measured time for a standardised drop in temperature into the environmental cooling rate.

   Each type of thermometer has a specific kata factor inscribed on its stem.

   2006, G. M. Dhaar, I. Robbani, Foundations of Community Medicine, page 41

   3 more examples

   The Kata factor is changed to B.t.u. per square foot by multiplying by 0.003687.

   1924, Journal of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers, Volume 30, American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers, page 455

   These workers believe that on account of these convection currents the kata factor varies with the temperature. In our opinion, the kata factor cannot vary; it is the coefficient of heat transmission — heat transmission per unit of time[…].

   1929, American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons, The Journal of Industrial Hygiene, volume 11, page 282

   A Kata factor, which is the amount of heat lost from the bulb surface during cooling (typically 475 mcal/cm² of bulb surface as the thermometer cools through 2.8°C), is inscribed on the stem.

   2007, David Vincent Chadderton, Building Services Engineering, page 17