Would the USA ever adopt the metric system, realisticly?

[feuergnom 29]

as for the whole discussion oh how a kilo is defined: clicky

interesting enough a quote from the entry:

Many units in the SI system are defined relative to the kilogram so its stability is important. After the International Prototype Kilogram had been found to vary in mass over time, the International Committee for Weights and Measures (known also by its French-language initials CIPM) recommended in 2005 that the kilogram be redefined in terms of a fundamental constant of nature.[3] No final decision is expected before 2011.


and for the nerds:

the watt balance

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[rhys 0]

Quote

BTW, when was the last time you handled 679 liters of water and needed to know its weight?

you are not getting the point, as most americans don't!

if I need 14.4 kg's of weight (or any amount), I know instantly that if I use water, one of the most abundant elements on earth;

I would need 14.4 litres and it would take up 14400cc, water is often used as ballast, weight etc.

having the whole system based on water makes all the calculations easier. the imperial system does not have such an advantage. fractions are not precise when you have remainders etc.



Funnily enough in New Zealand we call standard building framing (2x4 in america) "four by two" from the olden days and they measure 100mm x 50mm.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Quote

BTW, when was the last time you handled 679 liters of water and needed to know its weight?

you are not getting the point, as most americans don't!

No, you're not. Answer the question, too. How often do you need 679 l of water? Or for your esoteric scenario, 14.4kg of ballast?

It's a rare need in life, so the benefits of the easy translation aren't great. And as I said, if you know that conversion, you might also know 8.8lbs/gallon (or 64lbs cubic foot).

This is why Americans don't care. We rarely go beyond the 2liter bottle of soda, the gallon of milk, or the 750 of tequila.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

BTW, when was the last time you handled 679 liters of water and needed to know its weight?

you are not getting the point, as most americans don't!

No, you're not. Answer the question, too. How often do you need 679 l of water? Or for your esoteric scenario, 14.4kg of ballast?

It's a rare need in life, so the benefits of the easy translation aren't great. And as I said, if you know that conversion, you might also know 8.8lbs/gallon (or 64lbs cubic foot).

This is why Americans don't care. We rarely go beyond the 2liter bottle of soda, the gallon of milk, or the 750 of tequila.

Except for those of us who use measurements and subsequent calculations to make a living. Everyday I have to convert volume to weight and vice-versa. Metrics are MUCH easier to deal with. The only reason not to change...the ONLY reason...is people's fear of something they don't understand and don't want to understand.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[rhys 0]

Quote

Except for those of us who use measurements and subsequent calculations to make a living. Everyday I have to convert volume to weight and vice-versa. Metrics are MUCH easier to deal with. The only reason not to change...the ONLY reason...is people's fear of something they don't understand and don't want to understand.

thank you!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[Belgian_Draft 0]

You are welcome.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[DSE 5]

Quote

> That would help prevent the common handyman mistake of assuming that four 2x4's stacked together is 8 inches across.

You mean they're not?

I just know I'd be smarter if I hadn't had to spend all that time learning metrics back in the 70's.

[rhys 0]

Quote

8.8lbs

now you are mixing the imperial system with the metric.

decimal points are from the metric system you should have said 8LB's and 8/10's or some fraction.

maybe you have already adopted the metric system without knowing?

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

decimal points are from the metric system

Uh, no.

Quote

The first decimal system was introduced in the 4th Century BC by the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, to whom the invention of writing is credited.

Quote

The decimal system is also called the Hindu-Arabic system. It was developed by Hindu mathematicians in India more than 2,000 years ago. Arabs learned this system after conquering parts of India in the AD 700's. They spread knowle dge of the system throughout their empire, including the Middle East, northern Africa, and Spain.

The metric system may have made it more widespread, but it was not the genesis of decimal counting.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[shropshire 0]

I still don't think that you have got the point that he was trying to put over.

It's all to do with standards and easily reproduced standards at that.

If I send you the instruction on how to make a cake and you need 1 kg of something then all you would need to do is balance your something with 1 litre of water (something that is easy to find).

But if I say that in the recipe you need to add a gallon of milk - you'd still fuck it up because you don't even know what a gallon is because yours is not the same. You use the same word but not the Imperial standard measure for a gallon - disaster - your cake would be crap - No supper for you

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

your cake would be crap - No supper for you

I thought you were English, not French...

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[shropshire 0]

cheeky git

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[MikeForsythe 0]

But if I say that in the recipe you need to add a gallon of milk - you'd still fuck it up because you don't even know what a gallon is because yours is not the same. You use the same word but not the Imperial standard measure for a gallon - disaster - your cake would be crap - No supper for you***Really, then explain how my grandmother and I have made great cakes all our lives. Pardon me while I enjoy dinner and desert

Time and pressure will always show you who a person really is!

[shropshire 0]

Because you were using measures to the same standard and had calibrated scales... The problem arises when you cross standards boundaries.

Quote

Pardon me while I enjoy dinner and desert

But it's only 10:26 in the morning ... Maybe we're measuring time differently.....

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Capt.Slog 0]

Quote

Quote

8.8lbs

now you are mixing the imperial system with the metric.

decimal points are from the metric system you should have said 8LB's and 8/10's or some fraction.

maybe you have already adopted the metric system without knowing?

What he meant was 8lb 12oz 12dr 22gr (although if interested in the volumes of precious metals, different ounces would be used

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Because you were using measures to the same standard and had calibrated scales... The problem arises when you cross standards boundaries.

And why would we be doing that? Besides, we covered a few pages back that good cooks don't need measures at all.

And to think the English are trying to tell us about how to cook food? The people whose grand achievement was fish and chips?

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

now you are mixing the imperial system with the metric.

decimal points are from the metric system you should have said 8LB's and 8/10's or some fraction.

maybe you have already adopted the metric system without knowing?

wow, this is getting dumber each day.

Next we'll hear that calculus is also part of the metric system. How the fuck did any of us survive before the 19th Century when the French saved us?

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I still don't think that you have got the point that he was trying to put over.

It's all to do with standards and easily reproduced standards at that.

No, you guys are the ones that refuse to see daylight.

The cup is a standard. You can buy a cup measure and fill it millions of times and it still works. Quite reproducible. And really, if the metal cup made in China is off 3%, the cake will be fine. (Their 250ml container might be 5% off)

Easy conversions between volume and mass, or between alternate systems - just not that important to most people. For those that it is, they can opt to go metric, or they can learn to convert. Surely you know more than one language?

[billvon 3,072]

>wow, this is getting dumber each day.

He's right, actually. If you're using units like 8.8 lbs, you are "metricizing" english units of measure. The english measure would be 8 lbs and almost 13 oz.

The only thing worse than a pure english measurement system is a mix of metric and english units. That way you can make yet a third mistake, and mistake 8.8lbs for 8 lbs 8 oz (which I have seen several times.)

Like I said, both can work for everyday life. Just stick to one.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

He's right, actually. If you're using units like 8.8 lbs, you are "metricizing" english units of measure. The english measure would be 8 lbs and almost 13 oz.

Using decimals is not "metricizing" english units, no more than using 8.5 for 8lbs, 8oz. This is basic math. Not accurate enough for real science, but plenty good for daily life.

Quote

The only thing worse than a pure english measurement system is a mix of metric and english units. That way you can make yet a third mistake, and mistake 8.8lbs for 8 lbs 8 oz (which I have seen several times.)

Like I said, both can work for everyday life. Just stick to one.

I race a variety of english and metric distances. 1 mile, 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, swims of 400/800yards, or 800/1500/2400m, bikes of 18mi, 20k, 40k, 56mi. It's just not that hard, again for daily life where the measuring error can exceed the math error.

[champu 1]

Quote

Easy conversions between volume and mass, or between alternate systems - just not that important to most people.

Even if they are, with the tools readily available these days, common conversions are easy for things like wingloading, fuel efficieny, and diet.

[billvon 3,072]

>Using decimals is not "metricizing" english units, no more than using 8.5
>for 8lbs, 8oz. This is basic math.

Of course. Minimizing such conversions, though, can help with things like patient survival and the ability to actually reach Mars without destroying the spacecraft.

Like I said, for everyday usage, it's not an issue. It doesn't really matter if you run 24.86 miles, 26 miles, 26 miles and 385 yards, or 26.22 miles. Just avoid using 6'5" and 6.5 on the same order form at Home Depot.

[tbrown 26]

Quote

Like some have said, I think it'll be a slow transition into using a combination of both. I don't think we'll ever change to kilometers or kilos. Not because people think math is hard, but because math is needed at all. When someone says pound or mile, we can instantly see that in our head. When someone says kilo, I have to do the conversion to something I recognize mentally. The result is that I continue to think in miles and pounds, but have to spend the time doing a mental conversion. It's a matter of changing how the entire country thinks and what it recognizes. Much easier said than done.

It's not technically imperial, but Farenheit was designed for cooking because there's a much wider range available.

I prefer working with metric tools but the mental conversion problem is still there if I need to picture the part.

My point exactly on why a switch to metric fell flat on its face in the seventies. Trying to convert, trying to think back and forth, is enough to drive anyone crazy. It's a hopeless waste of time. The solution is to make a clean break to metric and trust that people will get a feel for it quickly enough. Because they will.

Your point about Fahrenheit being better for cooking though is well taken. should be no problem keeping a scale like that for that reason, while all the ingredients go metric.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[MikeForsythe 0]

Quote

The solution is to make a clean break to metric and trust that people will get a feel for it quickly enough. Because they will.

I guess that is a nice dream but that is about all that it is. It will continue to take years to change due to infrastructure considerations alone. Then there is the cost to convert which is huge. There is just no reasonable logistical way for it to occur quickly.

Time and pressure will always show you who a person really is!

[tbrown 26]

I guess that is a nice dream but that is about all that it is. It will continue to take years to change due to infrastructure considerations alone. Then there is the cost to convert which is huge. There is just no reasonable logistical way for it to occur quickly.