thanks a million for your time and efforts. I especially like your answer
to my question #1...well, your answer to #2 was terrific, also.
I infer that the Big Bang (and you also call it quick) route is most
efficient. Should I think that a country using this just completely drops
Standard markings and gives the lay person no time to learn the system?
....just immerse themselves into it? Not now (for God's sake,
it is Christmas eve and tomorrow Christmas Dday), but if you can give me a
little more definiton on what the Big Bag Route means....I would, again, be
so grateful. You've taught me a lot.
Consider this to be your best deed to humanity today.
Sincerely,
Linda
________________________________
From: "cont...@metricpioneer.com" <cont...@metricpioneer.com>
To: Linda Dawson <l-daw...@att.net>; U.S. Metric Association <
usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: Questions -- if you would be so kind to answer
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
--
This mail is sent via contact form on Metric Pioneer
http://metricpioneer.com/
----- End message from l-daw...@att.net -----
