China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Power Measurement Fundamentals
Published in Dale R. Patrick, Stephen W. Fardo, Brian W. Fardo, Electrical Power Systems Technology, 2021
Dale R. Patrick, Stephen W. Fardo, Brian W. Fardo
The English system of units, which uses units such as the inch, foot, and pound, has been used in the United States for many years. However, many other countries use the metric system, which has units such as kilometers, centimeters, and grams. The metric system is also called the international system of units and is abbreviated as SI. Although the English and SI systems of measurement have direct numerical relationships, it is difficult for individuals to change from one to the other. People form habits of using either the English or the SI system.
Essentials of Data Analytics
Published in Adedeji B. Badiru, Data Analytics, 2020
The standardized structure and decimal features of the metric system made it well suited for scientific and engineering work. Consequently, it is not surprising that the rapid spread of the system coincided with an age of rapid technological development. In the United States, by the Act of Congress in 1866, it became “lawful throughout the United States of America to employ the weights and measures of the metric system in all contracts, dealings or court proceedings.” However, the United States has remained a hold-out with respect to a widespread adoption of the metric system. Today, in some localities of the United States, both English and metric systems are used side by side.
Temperature Measurements
Published in Douglas O. J. deSá, Instrumentation Fundamentals for Process Control, 2019
Temperature is a means of determining the amount of heat that a body contains for a given condition; it is not a direct measure of the heat of the body. Once again, as for the parameter pressure, there are two scales of measurement: the absolute scale and an “indicated” scale, which is relative to a specific reference. There are also two systems of measurement units, Fahrenheit and Celsius (the old name for the latter in the UK and the United States was centigrade), usually abbreviated, as F and C. The Fahrenheit system is the imperial system for temperature measurement, while the Celsius system is the metric. The imperial system originated in Britain; it is no longer used there, although it is still in use extensively in the United States, while the metric system is predominant in Europe.
The US failure to adopt the metric system: the high cost of teaching the English system
Published in International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 2022
Mary C. Enderson, David D. Selover
There are several reasons for converting to the sole use of the metric system. Because of its decimal structure, the metric system of weights and measures is far simpler to use than the English system. It is easier to learn and remember, easily scalable, coherent, and less subject to error.2 Furthermore, under today’s dual English-metric system, additional errors arise due to a mix-up between the English and metric measures. The mixed English and metric system that the US now uses is costly at best, dangerous at worst. The exclusive adoption of the metric system has the potential to improve US efficiency in engineering and manufacturing, increase exports, rationalize global supply chains, decrease inventories of tools and parts, avoid costly errors, and collectively save millions of study hours of young students. Benefit–cost studies have shown that the US will greatly advance by converting to a metric-only system, see Selover & Rich, 2017 and De Simone, 1971. We propose that this cost–benefit analysis will have large positive impacts for the education of young students in US schools.