Metric vs. other measurement systems - chart

[Toolmaker51]

The description of "A lemon on legs" paints a visual alright, not disturbing, just humorous.

There is another, differently phrased but equal in humor. It describes an overweight [such as one of our politicians] retiree.
He's beach or poolside in Brazilian styled too-brief excuse for swimwear as an egg wearing a rubberband.
That IS disturbing!

[old kodger]

My mother, being 4'10" (in any direction) was severally described as "a lemon on legs" so it's little surprise that I'm off down the same road. Mind you, she lived 'til 95 years old so that can't be bad.

[Philip Davies]

For once, I am looking forward to a TV programme later this week, to do with the “internationally accepted prototype” of a kilogram. This has shed, I read, a fraction of its weight. This is described as the “equivalent of an eyelash”. Really? That seems quite a lot, and since it is locked in a vault near Paris, it’s not likely to be due to wear and tear. Hopefully the programme will explain why, although if it’s quantum physics, that will in itself be enough. The metrologists are apparently “racing” to invent a new standard kilogram. What are the likely candidates? I suggest 703 coffee beans.

[mklotz]

For once, I am looking forward to a TV programme later this week, to do with the “internationally accepted prototype” of a kilogram. This has shed, I read, a fraction of its weight. This is described as the “equivalent of an eyelash”. Really? That seems quite a lot, and since it is locked in a vault near Paris, it’s not likely to be due to wear and tear. Hopefully the programme will explain why, although if it’s quantum physics, that will in itself be enough. The metrologists are apparently “racing” to invent a new standard kilogram. What are the likely candidates? I suggest 703 coffee beans.

According to this article...

https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science...ns-ncna1007731

it's lost only 50 micrograms, the weight of a few fingerprints; an eyelash would weigh much more.

Science has advanced enough that we can now define the fundamental quantities (meter, kilogram, second) of the metric system in terms of physical constants not subject to the vagaries of nature as the prototypes of the past were. The meter is already defined in terms of the speed of light in a vacuum, a universal constant. The second is defined in terms of the radiation emitted by cesium. The kilogram was the last fundamental to be defined in terms of a physical artefact.

Now the kilogram has been defined in terms of Planck's constant, h = 6.62607015E-34 kg·m²/sec so the physical standard in France is no longer needed; it can rust and abrade away as much as it wishes.

Defining in terms of universal physical constants not only removes the dependence on objects subject to change, it allows users anywhere to generate the standard rather than having to travel to a prototype, measure, and then attempt to carry that measurement back unchanged.

[bruce.desertrat]

Defining in terms of universal physical constants not only removes the dependence on objects subject to change, it allows users anywhere to generate the standard rather than having to travel to a prototype, measure, and then attempt to carry that measurement back unchanged.

And it keeps pirates from stealing them, helping to cement America on the Imperial Standards swamp. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...-metric-system.

Speaking of which I found this amazing graphic today, showing the relationships of liquid measure in the (US) Imperial system. See they're perfectly simple! (just don't do it wrong; I think you'll summon a demon instead of finding how many teaspoons in ⅓ cup :-)

[mklotz]

Nice, but it doesn't show those classic, party-on, wine bottles...

Jeroboam
Salmanazar
Balthazar
Nebuchadnezzar

The inferial system, in addition to its innate idiocy, has the habit of giving units names that carry exactly no information about the unit's numerical value or relation to the base unit. Naming units for obscure biblical kings is the zenith of that nasty practice.

[old kodger]

According to this article...

https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science...ns-ncna1007731

it's lost only 50 micrograms, the weight of a few fingerprints; an eyelash would weigh much more.

Science has advanced enough that we can now define the fundamental quantities (meter, kilogram, second) of the metric system in terms of physical constants not subject to the vagaries of nature as the prototypes of the past were. The meter is already defined in terms of the speed of light in a vacuum, a universal constant. The second is defined in terms of the radiation emitted by cesium. The kilogram was the last fundamental to be defined in terms of a physical artefact.

Now the kilogram has been defined in terms of Planck's constant, h = 6.62607015E-34 kg·m²/sec so the physical standard in France is no longer needed; it can rust and abrade away as much as it wishes.

Defining in terms of universal physical constants not only removes the dependence on objects subject to change, it allows users anywhere to generate the standard rather than having to travel to a prototype, measure, and then attempt to carry that measurement back unchanged.

There is a fundamental flaw in the statement "time is a constant" it's been established that it is not, therefore ALL calculations based, or using, the speed of light are by definition variable.

[bruce.desertrat]

Well many times monks were the brewers, vinters and distillers, so maybe the names weren't so obscure to them; or originated as some sort of in-joke. some cursory googling does not turn up and definitive information on the origins...quite possibly the originators didn't remember why they called them that the next morning :-)

[mklotz]

Well many times monks were the brewers, vinters and distillers, so maybe the names weren't so obscure to them; or originated as some sort of in-joke. some cursory googling does not turn up and definitive information on the origins...quite possibly the originators didn't remember why they called them that the next morning :-)

Maybe they used the kings' names as a sort of code so they could talk openly in front of the bishop...

Yeah, last night was a real Nebuchadnezzar of a night!

Nah, the bishop was probably the biggest souse of them all.

[Toolmaker51]

And it keeps pirates from stealing them, helping to cement America on the Imperial Standards swamp. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...-metric-system.

Speaking of which I found this amazing graphic today, showing the relationships of liquid measure in the (US) Imperial system. See they're perfectly simple! (just don't do it wrong; I think you'll summon a demon instead of finding how many teaspoons in ⅓ cup :-)

Decent graphic depiction, but siding with Marv on this one, summoning inferial IS demonic...