a versus the

[Offroad]

Dear teachers

Which one of these articles sounds better?

The oven temperature was programmed to vary from 50°C (5 min) to 280°C (10 min) at a/the heating rate of 10°C/min.

To me, considering this context, either works.

Very much appreciated

Offroad

 

[Raymott]

Dear teachers

Which one of these articles sounds better?

The oven temperature was programmed to vary from 50°C (5 min) to 280°C (10 min) at a/the heating rate of 10°C/min.

To me, considering this context, either works.

Very much appreciated

Offroad

I'd use 'a', since there's no prior indication which heating rate they're talking about.
But I'd want to know how you get to 280 degrees in 10 minutes using a heating rate of 10 degrees per minute.

 

[Offroad]

I'd use 'a', since there's no prior indication which heating rate they're talking about.
But I'd want to know how you get to 280 degrees in 10 minutes using a heating rate of 10 degrees per minute.

You're right. The way it is written may lead us to think just as you did. In fact, it should read:
The temperature will increase from the ambient to 50ºC at 10ºC/min and stay there for 5 minutes, afterwards, it will increase to 280ºC at the same rate and stay there for 10 minutes. So, the math is: (50-25)/10 + 5 + (280-50)/10 + 10 = 45.5 minutes total time. :-D

Very much appreciated

Offroad