Metric or US customary? Which measurement system you perfer?

[simonpro]

Customary! And here's why, I was brought up on it, my parents were, their parents were, and so on and so forth. It's one of the things that makes America great.

Using an outmoded and hideously complicated system of units makes a country great? Interesting, but does it mean that countries that use both Imperial and Metric are twice as good?

The customary system is good. Socialism is bad.

Yep, it's a well known fact that people who use the Metric system are wine drinking, proliteriat loving, health care system giving, red banner waving, weed smoking, hippy loving socialists.

I've yet to hear a pilot announce that "we are flying at x hundred/thousand metres, it's always in feet and that's fine for me because I'm familiar with it.

Really? Just about all European airlines announce in meters first and then feet (with the exception of British based ones, which may explain it).

 

[T.Neo]

To answer the question of "Which measurement system do you prefer", I prefer Metric- simply because I am accustomed to it and live in a society that uses it almost exclusively.

To answer the question of "Which measurement system is better": Metric makes much more sense then Imperial- simply because it maintains a standard incrementation of ten instead of jumping between them (i.e. 12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, etc). However, Imperial does sound more romantic, and has a familiarity of sorts due to being based on the human body.

In short: Metric is essential for actually doing something, and Imperial is fine if you want to describe or explain something, within limits.

 

[Notebook]

To answer the question of "Which measurement system do you prefer", I prefer Metric- simply because I am accustomed to it and live in a society that uses it almost exclusively.

To answer the question of "Which measurement system is better": Metric makes much more sense then Imperial- simply because it maintains a standard incrementation of ten instead of jumping between them (i.e. 12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, etc). However, Imperial does sound more romantic, and has a familiarity of sorts due to being based on the human body.

In short: Metric is essential for actually doing something, and Imperial is fine if you want to dscribe or explain something, within limits.

Lots of things were done in Imperial, mostly to annoy Napoleon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_system

 

[Urwumpe]

Can you understand the green sign Amercians? Why you familiar of the metric system?

It's 3.2 km to the exit... in Germany, it would be rounded to 3 km.

Let's do a more practical example: Calculate the distance a train travels when it applies it's brakes. It is moving at 50 mph and slows down by 6"/s². when will it come to a stop?

In SI units, using more or less exact conversion, the important sentence is:

It is moving at 80 km/h and slows down by 15.24 cm/s².

In the first simple example, you need to convert from mph to inches per second. Have fun (Conversion factor is 17.497813... if you can keep this in your head, fine).

In the second, you need to convert from km/h to m/s, which is a simple division by 3.6 (you can check my math, it is rock solid). This conversion is so simple that it appears also in driving license exams.

80 km/h is 22.2222... m/s. 15.24 cm/s² is 0.1524 m/s² Punch both into the pocket calculator and get 145.81511 seconds to slow down and thus 1620.1678 m or rounded 1.62 km.

Or about one mile, if you cause no problems by dropping 66' 2" and almost 10 mil. :rofl:

 

[the.punk]

I prefer metric system. I think it's easier to handle for me.

 

[Notebook]

It's 3.2 km to the exit... in Germany, it would be rounded to 3 km.

Let's do a more practical example: Calculate the distance a train travels when it applies it's brakes. It is moving at 50 mph and slows down by 6"/s². when will it come to a stop?

In SI units, using more or less exact conversion, the important sentence is:

It is moving at 80 km/h and slows down by 15.24 cm/s².

In the first simple example, you need to convert from mph to inches per second. Have fun (Conversion factor is 17.497813... if you can keep this in your head, fine).

In the second, you need to convert from km/h to m/s, which is a simple division by 3.6 (you can check my math, it is rock solid). This conversion is so simple that it appears also in driving license exams.

80 km/h is 22.2222... m/s. 15.24 cm/s² is 0.1524 m/s² Punch both into the pocket calculator and get 145.81511 seconds to slow down and thus 1620.1678 m or rounded 1.62 km.

Or about one mile, if you cause no problems by dropping 66' 2" and almost 10 mil. :rofl:

The only conversion I can remember in Imperial is 60MPH = 88'/sec.
Very usefull...

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

Metric and only metric. Even if Orbiter is responsible for introducing me to it. At first I didn't like it, But I started grasping it so fast I learned my mind can only quickly calculate and understand metric in extreme values with clarity because of it's clean simple logic. I prefer using it for everything.

Now I dislike dealing with Imperial quite a bit. Especially in FSX as not even all the stock planes give metric values. I actually kind of jokingly refer to those who insist against Metric as Imperial Rebels (Star Wars). I know though, Imperial isn't completely without it's merits. I just dislike having two systems for doing the same job.

 

[garyw]

My point is that it's relative, people who grew up with metric are just as comfortable with it as we are, and that's the reason we haven't switched over yet, despite the huge benefits of using the same standardized measurement system as the rest of the planet. It's like smoking, basically, the benefits of quitting are plainly obvious, but people don't want to.

Absolutely. The EU have tried to force vendors in the UK to go metric for various weights and it ended up in a huge court battle. Unfortunatley the man who brought the action suffered so much stress he died.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_Martyrs

Now, I'm not saying that Imperial must stay or that one system is better than another but you have to realise that forcing metrication on people is a violation of all the rights that many of you demand. After all, What value does free speech have if one can't use the measurement system of ones own choice?

 

[Urwumpe]

You lecture us about rights, while your favorite measurement system is defined by the length of a body part of a former tyrant?

Do you know how the past was like, before standard units got defined? Every tiny duchy had it's own definition of units. Defined what suits the kings treasurer best or what makes more traders from that duchy happy. Selling in units other than the standard of the duchy resulted in fines...and more.

Having an international standard for measurements is needed when you want to do a fair trading...just look at how the criminals among the food industry fight in Europe against the traffic light system, which would standardize how they have to measure the amount of fat, sugar and calories in their products...currently they use what fits them best and what cheats most customers (Like Cola being designated in 100 ml units, despite a standard glass of cola is between 200 and 400 ml)

 

[garyw]

You lecture us about rights, while your favorite measurement system is defined by the length of a body part of a former tyrant?

1. it is not my favourite measurement system.

2. No matter how came about it is here.

3. I'm not lecuturing. I am replying to a post. I will no longer reply to this thread as I've now said everything I need to say and it is turning into a flame war.

 

[dansteph]

Now, I'm not saying that Imperial must stay or that one system is better than another but you have to realise that forcing metrication on people is a violation of all the rights that many of you demand. After all, What value does free speech have if one can't use the measurement system of ones own choice?

If everyone choose whatewer he want in every domain there is no society anymore and everyone loose. We are a social species like ants.

For me the liberty of everyone end where the cost for the whole society is too big.

Remembering history is a good things but our world was constructed because we evolved, not because we sticked to outdated and inefficient systems.

Now imperial system as metric was also *forced*. previously peoples used a lot of exotic measurment system and no efficient industry would have come to live with so much different systems.(babylonian, base 16 ? )

Well, liberty or history are not good arguments in my humble opinion, else everyone might claim the right to use our ancestor's system. (how much weight a car in mammoth's unit ?? )

Notice for aviation I preffer the imperial system as I'm used to it (else I grow in a metric only system)

Cheers

Dan

 

[Urwumpe]

1. it is not my favourite measurement system.

A few posts earlier, you said you prefer it.

2. No matter how came about it is here.

It does matter, if you want to argue about legitimacy.

Do you want the right to measure your distance to work in Supertankers, the power of your car in lightbulbs and the temperature of your fridge as multiples of the freezing point of hydrogen?

3. I'm not lecuturing. I am replying to a post. I will no longer reply to this thread as I've now said everything I need to say and it is turning into a flame war.

You had been.

Now, I'm not saying that Imperial must stay or that one system is better than another but you have to realise that forcing metrication on people is a violation of all the rights that many of you demand. After all, What value does free speech have if one can't use the measurement system of ones own choice?

You call it a infringement of your legal rights to be forced to measure in a different unit system. I call it stupid to punch your customers against the head and proclaim "I measure in pints because I want to and you have to buy it."

90% of the exports of the UK go into metric countries and companies paid more money every year for having two unit systems - one for the domestic market and one for export - than needed for replacing all traffic signs in the UK from imperial to metric.

Finally: you can measure in furlong at home, but once you want to trade, you have to follow the trading laws of your country. And the unwritten law of trading: The customer is king.

---------- Post added at 04:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------

babylonian, base 16 ?

Actually, it was base 60.

That is why we have 60 seconds in each of the 60 minutes of an hour.

 

[perseus]

Amazing but true.
Year 1998
The Mars Climate Orbiter (formerly the Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter) was one of two NASA spacecraft in the Mars Surveyor '98 program, the other being the Mars Polar Lander (formerly the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander). The two missions were to study the Martian weather, climate, and water and carbon dioxide budget, in order to understand the reservoirs, behavior, and atmospheric role of volatiles and to search for evidence of long-term and episodic climate changes.
The Mars Climate Orbiter was intended to enter orbit at an altitude of 140–150 km (460,000-500,000 ft.) above Mars. However, a navigation error caused the spacecraft to reach as low as 57 km (190,000 ft.). The spacecraft was destroyed by atmospheric stresses and friction at this low altitude. The navigation error arose because a NASA subcontractor (Lockheed Martin) used Imperial units (pound-seconds) instead of the metric system.
Following this incident, NASA reverted back to using Imperial units as their only system of measurement, starting with the Mars Rovers in 2004.
January 8, 2007
NASA has decided to use metric units for all operations on the lunar surface when it returns to the Moon. The Vision for Space Exploration calls for returning astronauts to the Moon by 2020 and eventually setting up a manned lunar outpost.
NASA astronauts on the Moon will use the metric system. The decision is a victory not only for the metric system itself, which by this decision increases its land area in the solar system by 27%, but also for the spirit of international cooperation in exploring the Moon. The decision arose from a series of meetings that brought together representatives from NASA and 13 other space agencies to discuss ways to cooperate and coordinate their lunar exploration programs. Standardizing on the metric system was an obvious step in the right direction.

 

[Andy44]

We are a social species like ants.

Like Heinlein's Bugs?

---------- Post added at 11:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 AM ----------

A few posts earlier, you said you prefer it.



It does matter, if you want to argue about legitimacy.

Do you want the right to measure your distance to work in Supertankers, the power of your car in lightbulbs and the temperature of your fridge as multiples of the freezing point of hydrogen?

Me and my business associates have the right to meaure things in whatever units we choose as long as we keep it amongst ourselves. My favorite unit is the Ice Cream Cone.

You call it a infringement of your legal rights to be forced to measure in a different unit system. I call it stupid to punch your customers against the head and proclaim "I measure in pints because I want to and you have to buy it."

If I am using an illogical or inefficient system, my customers can buy from you, instead. My freedom to be stupid enhances your business.

But I'm telling, ya, the Ice Cream Cone is the standard of the future!

Finally: you can measure in furlong at home, but once you want to trade, you have to follow the trading laws of your country. And the unwritten law of trading: The customer is king.

Exactly. The customer is king in the free market, and money is better at decidinf which system a merchant will use than any string of angry arguments on the internet. If the accepted industry standard is metric, the smart businessman will adopt it.

I'm going to go have an Ice Cream Cone of beer now.

 

[Urwumpe]

I'm going to go have an Ice Cream Cone of beer now.

Do you use Danish or Italian Ice Cream Cones?

 

[Andy44]

The navigation error arose because a NASA subcontractor (Lockheed Martin) used Imperial units (pound-seconds) instead of the metric system.

The software writing process had inadequate doublechecks in place. Better-faster-cheaper failed because they didn't spend enough money and time on good systems engineering processes and leadership.

The subsequent accident of the Polar Lander had nothing to do with units. It was attributable to the same systems engineering failures as the Climate Orbiter.

 

[garyw]

NASA astronauts on the Moon will use the metric system. The decision is a victory not only for the metric system itself, which by this decision increases its land area in the solar system by 27%, but also for the spirit of international cooperation in exploring the Moon. The decision arose from a series of meetings that brought together representatives from NASA and 13 other space agencies to discuss ways to cooperate and coordinate their lunar exploration programs. Standardizing on the metric system was an obvious step in the right direction.

[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Tue May 26 15:55:04 2009 they decided to go back to Imperial.

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=31353
[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[Andy44]

Do you use Danish or Italian Ice Cream Cones?

I am trying to standardize all Ice Cream Cones. It's a beautiful system. Also helps to teach about conic sections!:lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

And now they are about to say that the want to switch back from exploration to playing safe in the Kindergarten called LEO. Wouldn't have happened with metric units.

 

[Ark]

And now they are about to say that the want to switch back from exploration to playing safe in the Kindergarten called LEO. Wouldn't have happened with metric units.

You got it the other way around. They decided to switch to metric, then someone pointed out that the moon is 384,000 km away and people went "Holy ****! That's way too far!"