On 2009/01/31, at 1:52 PM, Jeremiah MacGregor wrote:
Stephen,
Is there a simple formula to calculate mpg from the fuel amount in
liters? Would it be just as easy to convert your miles to
kilometers and figure it out completely in metric? It shouldn't
make a difference which way you go.
Conversion is rarely simple. Consider your example of 'mpg'.
Firstly I have to understand the jargon you are using, as to me, my
first reaction is to use the internationally accepted symbols mpg to
read metres picogram, and this does not readily make sense to me.
There is only one system of units in the world, the metric system,
with only one unit for each measurable quantity and only one symbol
for each unit. All of the old pre-metric measuring names are simply
randomly generated words that have only rare, and often contradictory,
definitions, names, and abbreviations.
Suppose I guess that you are using a non-standard, and not
internationally supported, randomly generated abbreviation where mpg
might mean miles per gallon, then my next questions are, 'Which miles?
(nautical, USA statute, or internationally agreed 1959 miles? etc.)'
and 'Which gallons? (Queen Anne wine gallon? Imperial gallon? etc.)'
Having anything to do with conversions is, in my opinion, a nightmare.
I've been there and I don't want to go there again. See http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/MetricConversion.pdf
for some of the pitfalls.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
Geelong, Australia
Maybe the best thing to do is to use the correct symbols as others
noted. They are consistent even if spelling isn't
Jerry
From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 12:58:04 PM
Subject: [USMA:42542] Re: Small item seen on TV
"I'm too lazy to bother to figure out my mpg. I would be even less
prone to want to do it if it meant an extra calculation step? Do
people ever do miles per litre/liter if that would make it simpler
to compute? Or is there a simple way to compute mpg when fuel is
sold in litres/liters?"
You'd think that miles per litre would have taken off here - but it
hasn't. I guess there's a thought that there's consistency in
keeping all units from one system. Or something.
"I don't like this having to spell meter and liter two different
ways. Which should I use?"
I'd say the default was the American spelling - since this is an
American board. I tend to use 're' due to force of nature.
I think we know what we're all talking about - your best bet is to
stick with liter/meter probably.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:40:10 -0800
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [USMA:42523] Re: Small item seen on TV
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Stephen,
I'm too lazy to bother to figure out my mpg. I would be even less
prone to want to do it if it meant an extra calculation step? Do
people ever do miles per litre/liter if that would make it simpler
to compute? Or is there a simple way to compute mpg when fuel is
sold in litres/liters?
I don't like this having to spell meter and liter two different
ways. Which should I use?
Jerry
From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]>
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 12:04:56 PM
Subject: [USMA:42523] Re: Small item seen on TV
Historical usage.
Like 'mpg' even though we fill up with litres/liters.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:30:28 -0800
From: [email protected]
Subject: [USMA:42509] Re: Small item seen on TV
To: [email protected]
Martin,
So then psi is common in Britain. Why?
Jerry
From: Martin Vlietstra <[email protected]>
To: Jeremiah MacGregor <[email protected]>; U.S.
Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 11:10:03 AM
Subject: RE: [USMA:42430] Re: Small item seen on TV
I have not checked my tyres – however the air supply at my local
garage are calibrated in both bars and psi.
From: Jeremiah MacGregor [mailto: [email protected] ]
Sent: 24 January 2009 15:24
To: Martin Vlietstra; U.S. Metric Association
Subject: Re: [USMA:42430] Re: Small item seen on TV
Martin,
My tires show kPa (psi). Is this also the way it is in the world or
only the US ?
Jerry
From: Martin Vlietstra <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] ; U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]
>
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 10:22:34 AM
Subject: RE: [USMA:42430] Re: Small item seen on TV
The most common units of measure for tyre pressures in Europe are
bars or kPa. (100 kPa = 1 bar).
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Jeremiah MacGregor
Sent: 24 January 2009 14:59
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:42430] Re: Small item seen on TV
Harry,
Aren't they suppose to be in pascals or something along that line?
Jerry
From: Harry Wyeth < [email protected] >
To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 11:39:58 PM
Subject: [USMA:42388] Small item seen on TV
A minor point of interest: on PBS's US broadcast of the BBC World
News tonight, in a piece re the resumption of natural gas to
Europe, there was "footage" showing close-ups of presssure gauges
on pipeline fixtures out in the snowy fields.. One showed pressure
in kg/cm2, and the other in "bar".
HARRY WYETH
Beyond Hotmail — see what else you can do with Windows Live Find out
more!
Windows Live Hotmail just got better. Find out more!
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the
modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for
their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many
different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial
and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA.
Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST,
and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com
for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected]
or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter
to subscribe.
