Rocky, A liter is exactly equal to 1 dm^3, its mass however is not exactly 1 kilogram. That's were the difference lies. The difference is unfortunate, but also quite small.
Don > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of rocky the squirrel > Sent: Thursday, 2005 March 24 08:22 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:32562] kilogram redefinition - density of water > > It is a pity that the definition of a kilogram has to > be some huge number of wavelengths or carbon atoms or > what have you. Is the idea of it being the mass of a > cubic decimeter of water at the triple point too old > fashioned now? > > Relating the units of length and mass by means of the > density of water was a beautiful plan, but now they > have only some arbitrary chunk of metal or a "close > enough" number of atoms of the right isotope. > > While i am at it ;), since a liter is only "close to" > 1000 cubic centimeters, even the supposedly identical > qualities of capacity and volume are not related. > This is as bad as having both gallons and dry gallons! > Ironically, the relationship between feet and US > gallons (231 cubic inches) is simpler than the > meter-liter relationship. > > rocky > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com
