Imperial v Metric Measures

[Frank GorseParticipant @frankgorse]

Not so Duncan. You measure the distance in any direction on the chart then simply take the dividers to the latitude scale on the chart.

According to Google the Nautical Mile is currently used by all countries for air and sea navigation.

Edited By Frank Gorse on 11/04/2022 13:34:33

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Ah I see, you learn something new every day.

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by KWIL on 11/04/2022 12:33:16:

V8Eng

Hobs manufactered in mm and as regards the heat plates in cm, because saucepans "always" sold in cm sizes.

That supports my comment about teaching cm in schools.

As to the fitting instructions this was a simple sheet of paper for fitting into a worktop not end user data.

As a long time metric fan I still find oddities.

The imperial system is odd anyway take the old pound shilling pence ratio and I cannot even comprehend why a length specified as a nail or separate cloth measure etc.

Edited By V8Eng on 11/04/2022 13:43:49

[CalumParticipant @calumgalleitch87969]

Just on centimetres, it's not I think widely understood that the system of centi-deci-etci belongs to the metric system, but the system that we use involving millimetres and so forth is the SI [Systeme International] system, which Britain adopted in the early 60s, I think. They look very similar, and for everyday purposes are interchangeable, but there is a difference. The first chapter of Tubal Cain's handbook talks about this.

The main practical consequence of the change is that certain prefixes are no longer in official use. The definitions of certain units are also derived differently, in particular the unit of force.

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

I tend to use whatever system of measurement is appropriate at the time.

Mark P.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

V8Eng,

I ike the nail as being a tolerance of a 1 yard measure. ie 1 yard + 1 nail.but apparently not – 1 nail.

Good measure aand not cheating.

[Frank GorseParticipant @frankgorse]

Just followed the link to the FFF system,wonderful stuff. Can anybody tell me how to recalibrate my DRO to read in nanofurlongs?

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I was taught the old imperial measurements at primary school. Then physics in secondary school introduced the cgs system (centimeter, gram, second). Then it all changed again and we get MKS (metre, kilogram, second) with all its really large or impossibly small basic units, which I then had to re-learn the names for. I tend to use feet and inches when doing woodwork and metric dimensions for metal. I still think psi when inflating the car tyres because Pascals and the multiples thereof are meaningless to me. Not that I am supporting imperial measurements as I think metric is much more sensible. The only thing about imperial was, it made you good at mental arithmetic.

[Anonymous]

Posted by DMB on 11/04/2022 12:17:43:

I am an old codger, iif you like, but at no time have I praised up Imperial v Metric. Just that I passed through school being taught both systems

Only two? I was taught Imperial, CGS, MKS and "Rationalised" MKS. Afterwards, SI came along …..

There's nothing like a good old Slug!

[BC ProfParticipant @bcprof]

All those systems and all we had were log tables and Slide Rules to do the maths !!

In the previous century I picked up a Slide Rule from a seller at a junk market. He had a box of them .

When I showed my young son how you could multiply and divide numbers with one the seller was amazed he

gave me one !

Brian

[RobinParticipant @robin]

Inches fit better on a dial calliper than millimetres.

0.1" just works for one turn of the needle without getting too frantic.

2mm for one turn with diametrically opposing zeros is kind of icky.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I've searched the interweb and failed to find a package to convert SI into the FFF system. This is a need which must be filled by some clever person. We also need nomenclature for the derived units, equivalent to Newtons, Joules, watts etc. For starters

1 kg = 0.0245 firkins

1 metre = 0.3048 feet

1 second = 826.7 nanoFortnights

so 1 Newton, which is 1*kg*m/s^2 is 91.52 pico firkin.ft/fortnight^2. This is a bit of a mouthful, so I suggest we just call it a picoFoundal. Anyone remember poundals? Suggested names for all other derived units are invited, all to begin with the letter F to avoid confusion

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Here are some suggestions for unit names:

Yuck

Bleurgh

Ouch

You must be f*****g joking

Apply as appropriate.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Robin on 11/04/2022 22:48:07:

Inches fit better on a dial calliper than millimetres.

…

A fractional dial caliper is ideal then!

Don't think it makes much difference myself. 25mm around the dial is much the same as an inch. Not many engineers think in sixty-fourths, which is how the dial above is calibrated. millimetres are excellent for machining, and the system handles long distances consistently. Unlike an Imperial railway locomotive, where small parts are made in inches and thou, the machine is measured in feet and fractions, and the track in chains and miles. I think 1435mm makes more sense than 4' 8½" Although USA Standard Gauge is 1435.1mm, not the 4' 8½" it claims to be!

Dave

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