You are on the right track Linda. However, don't get too wrapped up in cm.
It may be good for some human measurements but not others.
One of the most used and practical observations by the public daily is that
of rainfall. Using cm in place of inches doesn't make sense except that
they are somewhat analogous.
The use of mm of rain translates into one litre of water when accumulated
over one square meter. That is a much more practical unit than a cm of rain
which would translate into 10 L over a square meter. Therefore, 1 000 mm of
rain equals one tonne or 1 000 kg and has a volume of one cubic metre. See
how simple and useful the SI is when used for specific applications?
Stan Doore
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda D. Bergeron" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 6:47 PM
Subject: [USMA:36313] RE: Prefix choices
Dear Pat,
I agree with you in that in all governmental, commercial, and technical
applications the "hecto-", "deka-", "deci-" and "centi-" prefixes should be
avoided. As such if I were leading a formal metrication initiative, I would
go this way.
But if we are going to get people to use the SI in their personal lives we
will have to 'allow' the centimeter for use. One of the frequent grips
against the SI is that (to some people) it does not feel "natural" because
(they say) it does not related to a 'body measurement'. To get people to
"think metric..." we have to come up with something they can readily see for
a comparison. True as the USMA website points out, the millimeter is the
thickness of a US dime, but that is not a 'body measurement'. The centimeter
does have a 'body measurement' connection, as your own articles point out.
The same holds for the meter.
In talking about the SI with relatives and friends who are not using it, I
find them more receptive to it via the centimeter, then the millimeter. This
they can readily 'see'. As such they do not automatically close their minds
to it.
For mass, I use one of those restaurant sugar packets that is 1 gram to
illustrate the gram. I also point out when they hear a reference to
"milligram", they should think of the contents of that sugar packet being
divided by 1000. To illustrate the kilogram, I point to the liter size
bottle of water.
For temperature, I use the following illustrations:
100 degrees C= water boils
37 degrees C = normal body temperature
30 degrees C = cookout weather
20 degrees C = a cool room
10 degrees C = wear a heavy sweater or jacket out doors.
0 degrees C = water freezes
For capacity, I point out that if you had a hollow cube 1 centimeter on each
of the three sides (as measured from the inside) filled with water, you
would have a milliliter of water.
Outside of the governmental, commercial and technical fields, lets
concentrate on getting people to use the basics first. Once they are fully
metricated at that level, we can then 'fine tune' their usage.
But if we try and do too much at once, we are going to defeat our own
purpose.
Linda D. Bergeron
----Original Message Follows----
From: Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Linda D Bergeron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"U.S. Metric Association"
<[email protected]>
Subject: Prefix choices
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 08:34:08 +1100
On 19/03/06 6:57 AM, "Linda D. Bergeron" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I agree. Getting people to use the SI in real life situations should
always
> be and remain the main goal.
>
> The SI is flexible enough that those who want whole numbers can get them
by
> simply shifting the decimal and using a lower order of magnitude.
>
> Everybody can have their cake and eat it too in the sense that if you
prefer
> only millimeters and meters you can have it. At this same time, those who
> want to use centimeters and meters can do it their way as well.
>
> The SI is big enough for all--a system of measure for all times and all
> people.
>
> Linda Bergeron
Dear Linda,
As you decide on whether to choose milli or centi as your predominant prefix
in 'real life situations' might I share with you an observation that I have
made when comparing quick, smooth, and economical metric transitions with
slow, painful, and costly metric conversion programs.
It may help you to be aware that the choice of centimetres rather than
millimetres almost automatically produces the slow path. I have yet to find
a successful example of a fast, smooth, and economical metric transition
that used centimetres.
As an example consider the cost of the confusion at Kodak where the film
division chose millimetres for measuring film and we have all enjoyed the
simplicity of using millimetres since the 1910s. The entire film metrication
process began in about 1910 and was complete -- worldwide -- by 1920.
Making a different choice, the Kodak paper division chose to use centimetres
for metric conversion and the Kodak photographic paper division -- and the
rest of us -- are still muddling along with a mangled mess of mixed numbers
in inches (with centimetres in brackets sometimes) more than 95 years later
and we've still got a long way to go.
The Kodak example, however, is only one of many where the choice of
centimetres has markedly delayed the metrication process; sadly, there are
many, many, others.
I sometimes think that stalled metrication processes such as the building
industry in Canada are largely due to this seemingly simple choice between
millimetres and centimetres. In comparison, the building industries of
Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa chose millimetres and their metric
transitions were all over within two years and these industries have been
enjoying cost savings of about 15 % every year since the mid-1970s.
If you are involved in leading a metrication initiative, please take care on
this choice of prefix issue as it is of prime importance to your ultimate
success.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305, Belmont, Geelong, Australia
Phone 61 3 5241 2008
Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online monthly newsletter,
'Metrication matters'.
You can subscribe by going to http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter
Pat is the editor of the 'Numbers and measurement' chapter of the Australian
Government Publishing Service 'Style manual for writers, editors and
printers'. He is a Member of the National Speakers Association of Australia
and the International Federation of Professional Speakers. He is also
recognised as a Lifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist (LCAMS)
with the United States Metric Association. For more information go to:
http://metricationmatters.com
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