A ton of refrigeration is equal to ______.

A ton of refrigeration is a unit that describes the cooling capacity of air conditioning systems. It is defined as the amount of heat required to melt one ton of ice in a 24-hour period, which equals 288,000 British thermal units (Btu) over that time frame. This measurement was established based on the energy necessary to convert ice to water without increasing the temperature. Since a ton is traditionally associated with a unit of weight, relating it to the melting of ice provides a practical reference for cooling systems.

This standardized definition helps in comparing the cooling capacities of different air conditioning systems and is widely used in the HVAC industry. Therefore, stating that a ton of refrigeration is equal to 288,000 Btu/24-hr. accurately reflects its defined cooling capacity. Other options may reference Btu rates that don't correspond to the standard ton of refrigeration measurement, making them inappropriate for this context.