Jim Elwell wrote:
>it has been suggested that we provide a link
>to a web page that does conversions.
> 
>I would prefer a site that converts TO metric only. 
>Can anyone recommend a site?

Yes. I strongly recommend google's calculator
function. Just try a normal search for '5 feet'. See:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=5+feet&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Conversion TO metric is easiest. You don't need to
specify a target unit, it will choose one. Conversion
FROM metric is still easy, but you must specify the
target unit e.g. '3 meters in feet'.

It assumes American units but will accept Imperial
units if specified. It is very flexible and will
accept forms such as:
5 ft 10 in
3 3/4 inches * 4.5
2 grains per 1/3 uk pint
2 grains per 1/3 uk pint in grams per liter
3 f in kelvin
2^20 teaspoons
2**20 teaspoons
300 btu per hour
120 psi
30 knots in km/h
900 sq cm in sq in

I have some minor complaints. For example it defaults
to micron rather than micrometer, and it seems to
prefer cm to mm. But most results only need a change
of name or a move of the decimal.

You also have to be careful with horsepower. If I
search for:
twenty seven horsepower
it gives:
20 133.8965 watts
That it happens to be the US SAE conversion (1 hp~746
W). Non-US vehicle manufacturers use 1 hp~735 W.
Quoted hp values in the US can be either, particularly
if it is from a non-US parent company. For example BMW
USA quoted two different horsepower values for the
same car.

If I search for
 260 foot pounds
gives:
 352.512667 joules
because of the coherence of the metric system, I know
that is identical to:
 352.512667 newton meters

If I don't happen to know that, I could do it
directly:
260 foot pounds in newton meters


I use google's calculator a lot. I recommend it to
everyone.

I hope that helps.
Terry


                
__________________________________ 
Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Reply via email to