In fact there is a convenient SI unit for volume between the cubic
centimeter and the cubic meter, namely the cubic decimeter. The liter is
just a name that is accepted for the cubic decimeter. One can see this
on the line in Table 6 of the brochure (last column).
In English, liter contains 2 syllables and cubic decimeter contains 6
syllables. In symbolic form, the liter does not require the use of a
superscript as was pointed out by Stanley Doore.
I have seen technical articles that use the cubic decimeter (dm3) rather
than the liter (L).
Jim Frysinger
Bill Hooper wrote:
On Jun 27 , at 2:56 AM, STANLEY DOORE wrote:
* kL is simpler to use and write*.
Kilolitre violates one of the simplifying rules of SI. It causes there
to be two different names (kilolitre and cubic metre) and two different
symbols (k and m^3) for the same thing.
Furthermore, the litre is not an SI unit (it is not coherent with other
SI units), the kilolitre creates still another non-SI, non-coherent unit.
The litre is already an exception to basic SI use, an exception which is
sanctioned by CGPM to address the problem of not having a convenient
unit with a size between the cubic centimeter (or cubic millimetre) and
the cubic metre. There is no such need to introduce the kilolitre
because there is already a named unit of the appropriate size, namely
the cubic metre.
The dubious advantage that "kL" is simpler to write than is "m^3",
because it avoids the need for an exponent, is small compared to the
problems of multiple names and symbols for the same unit and allowing
additional exceptions to pure SI.
Regards,
Bill Hooper
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
==========================
SImplification Begins With SI.
==========================
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stony Point Mountain Road
Doyle, TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
