2010 January 15
James D. Froula, Editor, The Bent of Tau Beta Pi
I want to ask that you stop using inch-pound units in
The Bent. Always use metric units.
In the Fall 2009 issue I see
200 mph on page 17
300 pound stones 300 yds on page 18
100 ft. high, 400 foot-long on page 22
few miles on page 23.
Engineering is a matter of measurement and numbers
and Tau Beta Pi is the best of engineering. And I say the
best of engineering is metric.
The Bent should be a leader in the mind set of metric
numbers and be a leader in ending the use of inch-pound
numbers. It is up to the editor to do this.
Of course, historical stuff is full of inch-pound
numbers. It is your job as editor to judge whether to keep the
historic inch-pound numbers in what is printed along with the
metric value. The metric numbers are the ones that keep me
in touch with reality. They are the numbers and dimensions I
need to comprehend the text. I hope you can help all readers
of The Bent to be in this modern reality.
Thanks for doing the tough job of editor.
Robert H. Bushnell PhD PE
