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UK Engineers raise concerns over proposed switch to imperial measurements

newcivilengineer.com

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Re: UK Engineers raise concerns over proposed switch to imperial measurements

#101

Post by BrandoElFollito »

NoImmatureAdHom wrote: post #53

Everybody's shitting on Imperial, U.S. customary, or whatever you want to call them units... Allow me to give a slightly different perspective: as a scientist, if I'm doing chemistry then metric is the way to go. Conversions are easier, centigrade and Kelvin just make a lot more sense... But for many day-to-day things I think the Imperial units are better. Temperature? Fahrenheit is a 0-100 scale, where 0 is pretty m…

I am French (so strictly SI) and an ex physicist (so I like powers of 10). And I agree with you, especially for the temperature, and generally speaking for anything related to everyday life.

I think however that we must have only one referential because it simply makes things difficult when communicating (similar to currency rates). We should have chosen °F for temperature because they are more optimal (no changes for science, easier in everyday life) but metric for distances and weights.

Distances and weights are often added, which is a problem for non metric units. We all remember the train starting from one city at 13:45 and the other at 9:12 and the time they meet. Super simple in metrics, super hard in train time.

Re: UK Engineers raise concerns over proposed switch to imperial measurements

#102

Post by Fire-Dragon-DoL »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #82
hyperman1 wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an european: Our speed limit is generally 120 km/h and maps very well to time units. We wonder how you cope with your 74 mph

In reality here in Ontario on the major highways the legal limit is 100km/h but actual practice is 120km/h. It's rare to go below that on the actual multilane 400-series highways, and rare you'd get ticketed for going that high.

That feels wrong on so many levels...

Re: UK Engineers raise concerns over proposed switch to imperial measurements

#103

Post by Fire-Dragon-DoL »

spoiler wrote: post #27
cmrdporcupine wrote: post #15

Observation as a Canadian: Until the US decides to finally convert (e.g. never), the rest of the anglo-sphere will be forever stuck in an awkward inbetween zone anyways. We supposedly converted to metric in the 70s but it's only ever been half-hearted, as many trades (especially construction) continue to work in imperial measurements, and most people work in an awkward combination of the two. As Canadians we typicall…

> As Canadians we typically measure our height and weight in ft and lbs. But temperature in celsius and travel distances and speeds in kilometres and km/h. Except for cooking/recipes, where oven temperature is measured in fahrenheit and we have to deal with recipes with cups and ounces and so on. ... But recipes are also often in litres and grams. So... These statements always amuse me, as someone who grew up in a pu…

As an immigrant to canada, doing the conversion in mind is PITA (I used metric system my whole life)

The most annoying thing inside homes is that everything is tuned for metric system. So you end up with things like xxx37cm, so annoying to line up.

Re: UK Engineers raise concerns over proposed switch to imperial measurements

#104

Post by beej71 »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #15

Observation as a Canadian: Until the US decides to finally convert (e.g. never), the rest of the anglo-sphere will be forever stuck in an awkward inbetween zone anyways. We supposedly converted to metric in the 70s but it's only ever been half-hearted, as many trades (especially construction) continue to work in imperial measurements, and most people work in an awkward combination of the two. As Canadians we typicall…

As Americans attempting to be more globally-oriented in these things, we set our thermometers to Celsius and all our GPS maps to kilometers.

It was interesting to watch ourselves slowly become "bilingual" over several months as we got used to what we needed to wear when it was 30° (F or C) outside.

I do wish countries (especially ours) would go all in.

Except for the pint. I always thought that was a good, allowable exception. :)

Re: UK Engineers raise concerns over proposed switch to imperial measurements

#105

Post by za3faran »

hyperman1 wrote: post #79
cmrdporcupine wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I always find this funny. England is kind of totally opposite from Canada. Distances and speeds in miles, everything else metric. Our speedometers can all switch, too these days. For travel into the US. Even Google maps will switch units right after you cross the border. FWIW MPH has the advantage that it's easier to estimate travel times based on typical 60MPH hwy speed. A minute per mile more or less. 100KMH is…

As an european: Our speed limit is generally 120 km/h and maps very well to time units. We wonder how you cope with your 74 mph

Are you referring to the fact that 120km/h means 2KM per minute?

Re: UK Engineers raise concerns over proposed switch to imperial measurements

#106

Post by EdwardDiego »

klyrs wrote: post #96
gpderetta wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course I never remember that a how much a pound is. From my d&d days (when we mix and matched Italian and English material) I remember that 2.5lbs is about 1kg, but that's a very rough approximation. Similarly I remember that 10ft is ~3m.

A pound is 7000 grains, hope that helps

Ah, so just a touch under 292 pennyweights. That makes sense :D
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