[USMA:45370] Re: Speed in metres per second

I am not convinced! One of the criteria needed in driving on the roads is the need to provide some form of relationship between speed and distance over time we that can relate to. If distance is measured in km, then speed needs to also use km, and km/h is as convenient a measure as any. I o

[USMA:45371] Re: Strange Unit

When I worked for the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, we were always having to convert US information to metric, and ksi was a very common unit. And very occasionally the CISC engineers had to work in ksi (it was used in Canada also until it converted - doubtless there are still many

[USMA:45372] Re: Speed in metres per second

Dear John, To put your thoughts into context, you might like to consider some of the (rounded) values in this table: Activity Speed (km/h) Speed (m/min) Speed (m/s) Walking – slowly 4 km/h 60 m/min 1 m/s Walking – briskly 6 km/h 100 m/min 1.7 m/s Walking – march time 5 km/h 9

[USMA:45374] Re: Speed in metres per second

Hi, I had also been thinking about m/s vs km/h some while ago. They convert quite easily, seeing as there are 3,600 seconds in an hour, and of course 1,000m in a km. m/s = (km/h)/3.6, or km/h = m/s*3.6. For scientific and industrial purposes, m/s seems a lot more useful. However, roads are expres

[USMA:45375] Re: Speed in metres per second

On Tuesday 14 July 2009 20:47:55 Pat Naughtin wrote: > I wonder if we will ever be ready to embrace the idea of using the SI > unit, metres per second, for speed in everyday conversations. > > Let's take the example given above with sensible rounding. The speed > limit on a highway might then beco

[USMA:45376] Re: Speed in metres per second

I believe the reverse is true.  I believe the SI Brochure has embraced the idea that certain commercial situations and everyday life are so committed to some special units that it is senseless to attempt change.  These include the liter, metric ton, hectare, minute, hour, and day (they did kiss

[USMA:45377] Re: Speed in metres per second

The Soviet Union use to use metres per second for aircraft speed and for reporting wind speed. I don't know if this is still the case. Stan Doore - Original Message - From: Pat Naughtin To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 8:47 PM Subject: [USMA:

[USMA:45378] Guide To Converting to Metric

Dear Mr. Munroe, Thank you for creating your metric converting guide (http://xkcd.com/526/). From the title, one would think it would be yet another table of conversion factors, but it is hardly that. It is a table of reference points that encourages the user to "think metric." It is also gra

[USMA:45379] Re: Speed in metres per second

On Jul 14 , at 8:47 PM, Pat Naughtin wrote: I wonder if we will ever be ready to embrace the idea of using the SI unit, metres per second, for speed in everyday conversations. (using Australian examples): School zone 40 km/h 10 m/s Suburban street

[USMA:45380] more on your metric guide

Mr. Munroe, P.S.: The correct expression for the derived unit "kilometers per hour" is the symbol km/h, not "kph." Using km/h would also be consistent with your use of the correct derived unit and symbol for speed, m/s. Also, the value "3 L" is explained as a "two-liter bottle." P

[USMA:45381] Re: Speed in metres per second

Well said, my thoughts too. Lets concentrate on conversion issues that can make sense to the general public. Telling them they have to go metric and on top of that now have to plan trips in meters per second vs. something more akin to what they are used to would be more of a disaster than a help. G

[USMA:45382] Organizing USMA Chapters

YES! What I have appears to be the same thing that is on the USMA web page noted by Don. I would still be happy to send what I have to anyone but, rather than get it from me, anyone interested could get it directly from the web page, where it will be sure to be the accurate and up-to-date

[USMA:45383] Re: Organizing USMA Chapters

Thanks Bill. I have been in touch with Paul T and Lorelle on this one. I would also like to invite members of this forum to attend via Webex if they can. Scott On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 9:10 AM, Bill Hooper wrote: > YES! What I have appears to be the same thing that is on the USMA web page > noted

[USMA:45384] Re: Speed in metres per second

On Wednesday 15 July 2009 09:29:59 John M. Steele wrote: > Engineers need to know they need pure base units for calculation, but they > already know this.  In everyday life, few people do such calculations.  > Mostly, they want an estimate of how long it will take to get somewhere.  > While they c

[USMA:45385] Re: Speed in metres per second

Fortunately, photons can solve Maxwell's equations much faster than I can.  Otherwise the speed of light would be minimal. --- On Wed, 7/15/09, Pierre Abbat wrote: From: Pierre Abbat Subject: [USMA:45384] Re: Speed in metres per second To: "U.S. Metric Association" Date: Wednesday, July 15,

[USMA:45386] Re: Speed in metres per second

I don't see why metric golf would be problematic.  Every course is "random length."  You would merely have to get used to hole lengths in meters, and be able to select the proper club given remaining distance to hole.  I'm sure metric golf is played in metric countries.   Metric football could b

[USMA:45387] RE: Strange Unit

I must admit that I have never heard of that measurement. Between 1970 and 1972 I worked in the de Beers diamond synthesis laboratory in Johannesburg. The units used when estimating the pressure inside the synthesis cell was kilobars - diamonds were synthesized at 50 to 60 kbar. The pressure o

[USMA:45389] Re: Speed in metres per second

On Jul 15 , at 8:39 AM, Pierre Abbat wrote: (It) ... would be easier if the speed limits were multiples of 9 km/h instead of 5. I can't imagine how speed limits set at multiples of 9 would be easier to do much of anything. Regards, Bill Hooper Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA ==

[USMA:45390] Re: Speed in metres per second

On Jul 15 , at 9:29 AM, John M. Steele wrote: In countries not already metric, such a proposal would simply add to any existing "the metric system is inconvenient" sentiment. I don't think it would be well-received in metric countries either. It is not a metric issue. It is an issue wit

[USMA:45391] Re: Speed in metres per second

One word "Tradition". -- "Go for a Metric America" Howard Ressel Project Design Engineer, Region 4 (585) 272-3372 >>> On 7/15/2009 at 12:57 PM, in message <307070.63964...@web82404.mail.mud.yahoo.com>, "John M. Steele" wrote: > I don't see why metric golf would be problematic. Every course i

[USMA:45392] Re: Speed in metres per second

Some sports like golf, without fixed playing field dimensions, can easily use metric units. Football has a fixed dimension filed which would create havoc with rules and statistic. Baseball on the other hand could keep its playing field the same but it could convert distances to the fence a

[USMA:45393] Re: Speed in metres per second

O.K., Stan, how do you put a 50 m insert in a 50 yard pool? Reminds me of the old expression about putting a quart in a pint pot. Bill _ Bill Potts W FP Consulting Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] _ From: ow