USMA. I received three questions from Linda Dawson who wrote a book:
Dradnats and the Metric Measurement Kids (Paperback ISBN
978-1492146261). I attempt to answer these questions and encourage you
to address these questions as well because my answers may not be the
best answers. Be sure to include l-daw...@att.net when you reply.
Hi Linda. I take a shot at addressing your questions:
Question 1. When do you think the U.S. will go metric? 5 years? 10 years?
Answer 1. The United States began efforts at metrication in 1866 with
the Metric Act, so we have been riding around on training wheels for
about a century and a half. The United States is already using SI to
some degree (see http://metricpioneer.com/fact-sheet for more detail)
so The US Metric Association advocates completing United States
conversion to the International System of Units, known by the
abbreviation SI and also called the modern metric system. The process
of changing measurement units to the metric system is called metric
transition or metrication. If Hawaii HB36 (see
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=36 for
more detail) is successful, then a state-by-state approach could be a
catalyst for a national trend that could start as early as 2018.
Question 2. Do you see it as a gradual transition? How did other
countries, such as Britain, make the change and how many years did it
take?
Answer 2. There are three common ways that nations convert from
traditional measurement systems to the SI. The first is the quick, or
Big-Bang route which was used by India in the 1960s and several other
nations including Australia and New Zealand since then. The second way
is to phase in units over time and progressively outlaw traditional
units. This method, favored by some industrial nations, is slower and
generally less complete. The third way is to redefine traditional
units in metric terms. This has been used successfully (in China for
example) where traditional units were ill-defined and had regional
variations. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication for more
detail.) Metrication in the United Kingdom remains partial. Most of
British industry, government and commerce use metric units, but
imperial units are officially used to specify journey distances,
vehicle speeds and the sizes of returnable milk containers, beer and
cider glasses. Imperial units are also often used informally to
describe body measurements and vehicle fuel economy. At school in
Britain, the use of metric units is the norm, though pupils are taught
rough metric equivalents of those imperial units still in daily use.
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_Kingdom
for more detail.)
Question 3. Talking on the level of 9 and 10 years old, can you give
me some interchangeable equations that kids could remember -- as I
know that the meter, liter, and gram are interrelated. I'm looking for
things such as: 1 kg =? cubic liters? If you could give me about ten,
that would be fantastic!
Answer 3. There is no such thing as a cubic liter, but rather, a liter
is a cubic decimeter. Mass and Volume are not equivalent things, for
example, a liter of air has less mass than a liter of water so they
have different weights. I already offered to mail you a free SI Ruler
that lists those interrelationships but you responded saying that you
don't want it. See http://metricpioneer.com/shop/ruler/ for more
detail. One liter of water fills one cubic decimeter and weighs one
kilogram. So, one thousand liters of water fill one cubic meter and
weigh one ton. Be cautious though; this equation works for water, but
not for matter of different densities. Have a look at that ruler again
and peruse it in its entirety.
David Pearl MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917
----- Message from l-daw...@att.net ---------
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2013 19:36:50 +0000
From: Metric Pioneer <l-daw...@att.net>
Subject: Questions -- if you would be so kind to answer
To: cont...@metricpioneer.com
From: Linda Dawson <l-daw...@att.net>
Subject: Questions -- if you would be so kind to answer
Message Body:
Hi, David,
My children's book should be coming to you shortly. I know you know
a lot more about metrics than I do. I was wondering if you could
enlighten me.
1. I know this is a guesstimate, but when do you think the U.S.
will go metric? 5 years? 10 years? ?
2. Do you see it as a gradual transition? How did other countries,
such as Britain, make the change and how many years did it take?
3. Talking on the level of 9 and 10 years old, can you give me some
interchangeable equations that kids could remember -- as I know that
the meter, liter, and gram are interrelated. I'm looking for things
such as: 1 kg =? cubic liters? If you could give me about ten,
that would be fantastic! I know this is the holiday season, so you
can answer this very long e-mail at your convenience or answer part
of it and finish later. Most grateful, Linda l-daw...@att.net
--
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----- End message from l-daw...@att.net -----
