Ban the Imperial Measures Forever!

[AJames]

According to many sources, like wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SI ;

"The International System of Units (abbreviated SI from the French Le Système international d'unités) is the modern form of the metric system. It is the world's most widely used system of units, both in everyday commerce and in science."

To [1ponders] The "Light Year, the parsec and the AU are NOT considered imperial units.

a) The light year is based on the SI unit of the "year", which is the derived form the time it takes light to travel. The SI unit is 9.461×10^15 m 9.461×10^12 km, whose imperial equivalent is 5.879×10^12 mi (miles).

b) The parsec is based on an SI angular unit, whose SI Unit is defined as 30.857×10^15 m are 30.857×10^12 km. The imperial unit is 19.174×1012 mi (miles)

c) The Astronomical Unit which are SI units as; 149.6×10^9 m or 149.6×10^6 km. The imperial unit is 92.956×106 mi (miles).

As such the current uses of these are considered derived metric units as part of the metric and SI system. They are also considered under the IAU (International Astronomical Unit), under the universally accepted international standard ISO 31-1. Ie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_31-1 , which are adopted in all schools and universities (except notably the United States of America) All the other ISO-31 adopted standards. Ie. See. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_31

2) Furthermore, in response to JimmyH155, while the metre is the standard SI unit for the unit of measure, millimetres or centimetres are perfectly acceptable as units no because they are correct but are convenient to use. Telescope mirrors have been traditionally been made in terms of inches. Ie. 3-inches, 6-inches, 10.5cm. 20cm, 30cm etc. These are rounded to the nearest 0.5 of cm for convenience - even though they many not be exact. However, glass or Pyrex blanks in many places are now exact in centimetres. Other than optics in England and some of the UK, there are mirrors which are exactly 30cm or 30.4/30.5 cm. The mirrors diameter is a bit of a misnomer, because the width of the mirror surface and the size of the mirror blank are different, because the edge is often bevelled at 45 degrees to prevent breakage. (The amount of bevel is different from mirror to mirror. Hence, the inconsistency in actual mirror width. Therefore mirror diameters are merely averages and not really exact.

3. There are real implications for the whole world here; Two examples appear in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_of_measurement Here it is said;

"One example of the importance of agreed units is the failure of the NASA Mars Climate Orbiter, which was accidentally destroyed on a mission to the planet Mars in September 1999 instead of entering orbit, due to miscommunications about the value of forces: different computer programs used different units of measurement (newton versus pound force). Enormous amounts of effort, time, and money were wasted.
On April 15, 1999 Korean Air cargo flight 6316 from Shanghai to Seoul was lost due to the crew confusing tower instructions (in metres) and altimeter readings (in feet). Three crew and five people on the ground were killed. Thirty seven were injured."

AJames

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by ving

when they tell me this i state quite simply that there are people dying in third world countries.

and 0.3 world countries, and 1/3rd world countries, and 30% world countries

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Well there ya go. AJ

Actually Ken that is 33.33333333333333 recuring %

[AJames]

Ving said;

"one could (as i do) mix and match to ones needs... some people find this annoying and state i should use one or the other and not both, especially at the same time...
when they tell me this i state quite simply that there are people dying in third world countries."

Yes all well and good, but why learn things twice?

As a second point of view; Trying asking a youngster in Australia how long a 'foot' or an 'inch' is in length with their hands or fingers. 95% just don't know... hence the banning question.

AJames

[avandonk]

It does not matter what units you use. Always specify exactly what they are!

Don't say altitude 1500
Say altitude 1500 feet

What's FL 35 ?

By the way feet are still used as an altitude measure as the conversion would lead to disastrous consequences!

If us old issue from unwed mothers can work it out, the rest of you should be able too as well.

Bert

[sheeny (Al)]

OK. You got me... I had to sit on the fence for this one!

Originally Posted by JimmyH155

Centimeters are housewives units, fine for neck, bust and waists, not for scientific instruments.

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

And yes, centimetres are for measuring cloth and ladies body sizes, not for anything engineered.

I agree. My mum was a dress maker, my first wife was a fashion designer... but if I talk in mm I might as well be talking chinese! I can handle imperial or metric. I prefer metric... proper metric... but I can work in anything - even dressmaker's measures!

Originally Posted by ving

one could (as i do) mix and match to ones needs... some people find this annoying and state i should use one or the other and not both, especially at the same time...
when they tell me this i state quite simply that there are people dying in third world countries.

Yes, well I'm one of those people who have been deeply indoctrinated to use consistent units... such is the power of the system to make us all sheep... to conform...

You make a valid point on perspective, however!

Originally Posted by ving

everything should be measured in lengths of string...

They are... you old M-theorist you!

I don't mind imperial though. Eventually it will go the way of cubit, or the megalithic yard, but let's face it, if you want to make a truly authentic replica of a megalithic henge you will need to work in defunct units such as the megalithic yard... a metric henge??!! It's just not on!!!

Given the megalithic yard was used for astronomical instruments way before the imperial system, maybe we should be using that on the basis that "it was here first"???

Al.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Tough one for many I am sure but in my opinion it needs to be in Imperial...

Dosen't an inch of rain sound so much better than so many mm of rain? Or doesn't a top speed in miles per hour just sound faster than kilometers per hour?

I grew up with the Imperial being born and raised in the USA...in truth there was a push to teach people the metric system in school during the seventies and even a few road signs (at least for a while) showed the distance to some locations in miles and kilometers...but it never caught on...

At least to me a towering home run that goes 400 feet to leave the park or a 48 yard field goal to win the game just sound so much better (at least to me) than their metric near equals...

Besides, I recently read that the "kilogram" is getting lighter...does a 100 gram buger have the same appeal as a 1/4 pounder? I think not!

I suspect everyone will want to change all temperature measures to celsius next...

[Alchemy (Clive)]

Did you knowthe pyramid was built with the inch ---ancient pyramid inch = 1.00106 british inches

The world just happens to be 500,000,000 inches pole to pole in diameter.


Do some research on the french metre as it was made from the quadrant of the earth calculated from the pole to the equator through dunkirk. hence using an earth based measurement as an acceptable standard...oh the french didnt quite get it right either.

Cheers AL

[mickoking]

The only time I use imperial is when I am describing photo print sizes in Inches and that is just a habit from when I used to be a photographer. If you give me an altitude in feet, a weight in pounds (STONES??) or a temprature in farenheight it means nothing to me unless I convert it to metric. Metric is also the system used in Australia and China so I prefer to use it Over imperial.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

If you want to change ALL things to the metric system which uses units of tens, hundreds, thousands etc, and do away with odd measurements like 15/64ths, a yard, pints, 8 stone 11 pounds, etc etc, then why not go all the way and metricize time!

Make everything in Tens!!!

New clocks in time units of ten.
Something like 100 units a day (instead of 24 hours a day) 100 milli-units per unit (instead of minutes) and 100 Micro-units per milli-unit (instead of seconds).

I can just imagine reading the time as '93.81 past 74'

[acropolite (Phil)]

The old imperial measurements are sometimes just that little nore descriptive, 9 feet long is easier to visualise than 2700mm, and how the hell would one "inch along a narrow ledge" in metric. There's room for both... remember how long ago it was (some of you weren't even born) when we changed to metric measurement and we're still using the odd imperial measurement. And really... does a litre (or part thereof) of beer sound even half as romantic as a pint...

[erick (Eric)]

My chiropractor told me a story of having a garden wall built. The old guy started on one end, the young guy started the other end and they didn't quite meet in the middle. Old fella - feet and inches; young fella - metres and centimetres!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by erick

My chiropractor told me a story of having a garden wall built. The old guy started on one end, the young guy started the other end and they didn't quite meet in the middle. Old fellow - feet and inches; young fella - metres and centimetres!

. . . and what about the stuff-up with Hubble!!!!

[erick (Eric)]

was that a "units" issue?


Edit: OK, a bit of research. No, it wasn't units.

"The Allen Commission found that the null corrector used by Perkin-Elmer had been incorrectly assembled. Its field lens had then been wrongly spaced by 1.3 mm. The spacing of the field lens in the corrector was to have been done by laser measurements off the end of an invar bar. Instead of illuminating the end of the bar, however, the laser in fact was reflected from a worn spot on a black-anodized metal cap placed over the end of the bar to isolate its center (visible through a hole in the cap). The technician who performed the test noted an unexpected gap between the field lens and its supporting structure in the corrector and filled it in with an ordinary metal washer."

[mill (Martin)]

Originally Posted by erick

My chiropractor told me a story of having a garden wall built. The old guy started on one end, the young guy started the other end and they didn't quite meet in the middle. Old fellow - feet and inches; young fella - metres and centimetres!

Now that is where the problem lies.
The old farts and imperial purists are just holding on to their stupid inches and feet.
How long ago was Australia gone over to metric?
And what about your speedometer in the car.
Como'n lets get real, it is just some old people holding on to their stuff (or are they just the poms ).
If everything was standarised i wouldn't have to think "do i need an 12mm spanner or a 7/16.

[CoombellKid]

I got brought up on both, learnt metrics at school, and imperial at home with
the folks. So I pretty much use both and still feel more comfortable saying
"it's a couple of miles up the road". When I've driven in Canada and the US
the cars have miles and kms readout. 60 in the US means 60mph, where
I was initially driving 60kms lol. And forever turning into the wrong side
of the street doh'

regards,CS

[Terry B]

Originally Posted by avandonk

It does not matter what units you use. Always specify exactly what they are!

Don't say altitude 1500
Say altitude 1500 feet

What's FL 35 ?

By the way feet are still used as an altitude measure as the conversion would lead to disastrous consequences!

If us old issue from unwed mothers can work it out, the rest of you should be able too as well.

Bert

Sometimes it is better not to state the units. An example is when something is always measured with the same units. I remember a medication error occurring to a 3 year old child at a well known Sydney hospital. The order was for 3 U of insulin to be given. This was interpreted by the nurse as 30 not as 3U and sadly the child was given 10x it's correct dose. The child survived but a big audit was the result. It was determined that no units should be written next to insulin to reduce errors.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by mill

Now that is where the problem lies.
The old farts and imperial purists are just holding on to their stupid inches and feet.
How long ago was Australia gone over to metric?
And what about your speedometer in the car.
Como'n lets get real, it is just some old people holding on to their stuff (or are they just the poms ).
If everything was standarised i wouldn't have to think "do i need an 12mm spanner or a 7/16.

Hey!!!

Watch the 'Old' bit

[mill (Martin)]

Oops i should use the word over the hill gentlemen

[Benny L (Ben)]

ban it!

i dont think its necessary to deal with pints, lbs, fathoms, yards, ounces, gallons etc.

metric is easy x10 or /10 piece of cake