Final answer:
The statement in question is false; the Celsius scale is an interval scale, not a ratio scale, because it does not have an absolute zero point. The Kelvin scale, in contrast, is a ratio scale with an absolute zero, allowing for meaningful comparison of temperature ratios.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'A ratio scale equal distances between scale units but with no absolute zero such as temperature measured in degrees Celsius' is incorrect. The correct classification for a temperature scale like Celsius is not a ratio scale; rather, it is known as an interval scale.
This is because, while the scale does have uniform distances between its units, it does not have an absolute zero point. For example, 10 degrees Celsius is colder than 20 degrees Celsius can be stated as true, but it is false to claim that it is twice as cold because the Celsius scale lacks a true zero point that signifies an absence of temperature.
The Kelvin scale, on the other hand, is a ratio scale that does have an absolute zero — the point at which there is a complete absence of thermal energy. This means that comparisons of proportion, such as twice as hot or half as cold, are meaningful in the context of the Kelvin scale. For instance, 100 K is indeed twice as hot as 50 K because 0 K is the baseline for absolute zero.
Therefore, in the context of the Celsius scale, one cannot accurately make statements regarding ratios of temperatures due to the lack of an absolute zero point. This distinction is essential in scientific work where calculations often depend on ratios of absolute temperatures, and thus the Kelvin scale, which represents absolute temperature with an absolute zero, is typically used.