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Re: At the centre of time
From: Douglas Denny
Date: 2009 Oct 22, 11:27 -0700
From: Douglas Denny
Date: 2009 Oct 22, 11:27 -0700
The British have been using the metric system ("French measure") for scientific purposes for a very long time. Possibly a century or more. It was only in engineering (particularly automotive engineering) that Imperial measurements persisted, and probably only in that sphere of influence due to the very close connections to America and importing/exporting there. I remember being taught SI units for science subjects from the beginning of secondary school in the early 1960s, and Imperial measure was in decline even then for engineering as 'foreign' continental cars and goods were being imported here in large numbers by the mid 1960s. This illustrates the whole argument about measurement is: it depends on what people actually USE regularly for their measurement and the reasons behind that use. The argument as to which is "better" has been going on for decades and is quite sterile as an argument as both systems have advantages and disadvantages and either can be used when familiarity with use is there. Having been taught both systems I find it quite easy to use my Imperial lathe but do all work in metric simply because I always used metric. One gets used to applying 40 'thou'(actually 39.37) for every 1mm if you have to use an Imperial divided machine. It is no big deal. There are good reasons for using SI for scientific purposes; which is why it has probably taken over as the international measurement system - as all work scientifically is international by nature, and a universal system is obviously necessary. For practical measurement in every day life such as carpentry, or building, the Imperial system was probably superior for intuitive use, as it is based on the yard, foot, and inch which were 'natural' measurements closely related to human anatomy; and the duodecimal system based on twelve has more factors for division. The practical units used are more convenient with smaller values too. I still find it mildly annoying to measure 'home' lengths such as say carpets as 12.650 Metres instead of simple feet and inches, but it doesn't matter either way if you use one system only as you get used to it. It might be a surprise to some that one of the great engineers of all time who gave his name to a screw thread, - and promoted the universal use of fixed and standardised screw threads - Joseph Whitworth - also tried unsuccessfully to promote at the same time the general use of metric measurements in engineering. he was successful in the promotino of standardisation for screw threads but not metrication ! I also find it very amusing that the French hate with a passion the use of Greenwich as the accepted International Prime Meridian, yet are responsible for and successfully promoted the SI units system which is the international accepted system for measurement. The argument is the same for both - it doesn't actually matter very much one way or the other, except that is, to national xenophobia and pride, which is worthless in scientific terms and actual use of either system. What counts is the international recognition of a standardised system that all can use. Douglas Denny. Chichester. England. ========================= Original post: I think the English speaking part of the world could take an example from that regarding the SI units. Getting back to the thrust of Maarten's observation, Australia and New Zealand went pretty-well entirely metric during the 1960s/1970s. Over more recent years even the ever-recalcitrant Brits have largely achieved as much, despite enormous angst, moanings/groanings and the gnashing of teeth which I understand have far from subsided, although the advantages of using a European-wide common system, never mind about world-wide, has apparently proved an unstoppable force. So significant parts of the "English speaking part of the world" have effectively taken Maarten's example to heart. "According to the US CIA World Factbook in 2006, the International System of Units is the official system of measurement for all nations except for Burma, Liberia, and the United States.[1] (Some sources identify Burma and/or Liberia as metric, however.[2][3][4])" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_system Which leaves that little place in North America as the major feet-dragging nation, or insular wilful ignorer of these advantages. The irony is that in 1790 Thomas Jefferson proposed a decimal-based measurement system for the USA, and a subsequent vote in the US congress to replace the still-current imperial (!) system by a metric system was lost by just one vote. Jefferson's enthusiasm, apart from being a chappie of scientific bent, may not have been entirely unrelated to a close relationship between the revolutionary American newly ex-colony and revolutionary France. Then in 1866 Congress legalised the use of the metric system in the United States. And that is about where the metrification process halted, although in 1957 the US Army and Marine Corps adopted the metric system for use with their weapons, and in 1988 Congress passed the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act, calling for all federal government agencies to use the metric system by the end of 1992. Has this Act achieved much change in the USA, I wonder? A little more time may be required. There is no point in rushing into these things ... Actually, what I really think is that the USA is instinctively, and despite all current evidence to the contrary, a deeply insular nation which would really prefer to withdraw from the world into itself. This has always been the broad brush of US foreign policy, even throughout much of the 20th century, as is witnessed by the US reluctance to become involved in either great world-wide conflict of that century. If only it had (even more) fossil oil. 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