2012 October 26
Curtis D. Gomulinski
Editor, THE BENT of Tau Beta Pi
In the FALL 2012 issue you note, about my letter on units, that
"Use of the metric system continues to be debated." Is it? Can
you please refer me to some of this debate? My understanding is
that most people agree that the US should stop using inch-pound
units but that we just have not gotten Congress and the several
engineering societies to do it.
You further say that "it is critical that engineers understand
and can apply English units." I venture the view that the use
of "English" units is not "critical". If I may use such a strong
word, what is "critical" is the use of metric units only.
I hope THE BENT and Tau Beta Pi can honor those chapters and
students who get engineers to stop using inch-pound units.
(ASHRAE still uses Btu. ASTM still puts inch-pound
units in its standards.)
THE BENT can help. Please do.
Robert H. Bushnell PhD PE
