Stephen Humphreys wrote:
Accurate in relation to what?
Accurate in relation to the conversion factor to the metre becoming more
accurate (as technology allows).
When the yard became 0.9144 m, it was effectively made *less* not more
accurate than when it was 0.91443992 m
When this change to the standard occurred the yard was shortened to
something more convenient. I doubt that it's mere coincidence that 9144 is a
multiple of 36.
It would be interesting to know how they actually went about doing this.
Did they physically take a metre stick to the official yard at Trafalgar
square?
I doubt it.
...
"You doubt it" - which means that the view your expressing is an opinion.
I hope you can now see from the detailed historical account (Cardarelli) I
have since posted that it was more than just an opinion.
Fortunately I have no emotional attachment to the yard so I can put it on
either side of the equation.
I've yet to hear an argument for retaining the yard indefinitely, in spite
of all the practical advantages of a single easy system of measurement, that
is anything other than emotional.
Phil Hall
