Well, at least the measurements were taken in metres and the feet are just translation. Which means it should be easy to see the hidden metric in the numbers.
Euric ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jason Darfus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, 2004-06-07 15:35 Subject: [USMA:30077] "Shooting for the Sky" > The response from the journalist who reported on this story: > > Hmm.. so it looks like the students did in fact record their results in feet... *sigh* > > -----Forwarded Message----- > From: "Pemberton-Butler, Lisa" > Sent: Jun 7, 2004 1:58 PM > To: Jason Darfus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RE: "Shooting for the Sky" > > Hi Jason, > They used altimeters (sp?), but then converted the measurements back to feet, as part of the project. > Thanks for your comments. > It was a fun event to watch. > Lisa > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jason Darfus > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 8:12 AM > To: Pemberton-Butler, Lisa > Subject: Re: "Shooting for the Sky" > > Dear Ms. Pemberton, > I found your article titled "Shooting for the Sky" through a Google News > search with the term "metric system". It was good to read that the 8th grade > students are learning to use SI (International System of units) in their > project, however your reporting of the altitudes reached in units of feet is > of concern. Did the students determine the altitudes in "feet" or did you > make the conversion for the story you reported? I sincerely hope the > students actually measured attained altitudes in meters and not feet > otherwise it's self-defeating. > I really wish reporters all across the country would begin using SI terms in > their stories so as to familiarize the general public with their usage. I > doubt there will be a "directive" from the Federal Government demanding > people switch to exclusive use of SI so it's up to the individuals to take it > upon themselves and decide to start the conversion at the grass-roots level. > Until folks can overcome the inertia and initial embarrassment of talking SI > in everyday life, conversion will continue to take 'forever'. > > 81.4 m is pretty impressive for a pop bottle rocket :-) > > Sincerely > Jason Darfus > Columbus, OH > >
