Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:56:05 -0400
From: "Stan Jakuba" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [USMA:41200] tonne
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
A copy of a letter to Editor.
I liked the latest issue of your newsletter very
much, particularly the CO2 disposal analysis. It was
a news to me.
Now a negative, the "tonne" issue. Please do not
introduce a redundant (and non SI) unit into The
Energy Advocate.
You must know about the possibility for confusion
with the tonne. There is a whole bunch of tons
already, such as tun, tann, tuna, long t., short t.,
metric t.,. boiler t., etc. worldwide. Some mean
mass, others force, and most both/either. You know
that most people have no understanding what all
those "t." really mean, and will guess the "tonne" -
an obvious chance for error.
As you know, there is simply the Mg (as there are
mg, kg, Gg, etc.) for any mass, and their meaning is
undisputed. You can always use 1000 kg if 1 Mg is
too "foreign" for you. (I give preference to
"foreign" but specific over a "used" but a matter of
interpretation.) You also know, that, aside from the
two, there is the long established "metric ton." It,
like the other "t,s", requires a qualification such
as "of mass" (massic) or "of force." In any case,
these three "units" are more than enough - why a
fourth one?
Please, apply the KISS principle and stick
with SI. Its usage will spread quicker without
tonnes. You will agree that the general population
will catch on anything if they see it repeated
enough times. Anybody can and will be comfortable
with Mg, or kN, or kW if all the "t." nicknames
disappear. I do not need to tell you that SI is the
ultimate goal and these silly "t" nicknames, even
those approved by BIPM, are only making
the simplicity of SI less obvious and fuel
anti-metric sentiments in the US.
Also, I should not need to point out that the E. A.
is read outside the English speaking word - how is
"tonne" in Chinese?, Arabic?, Portuguese? - what is
its international symbol?
Let's keep the tonne where it had been - in France -
and do not support its spread.
All the best,
Stan Jakuba
