Metric vs Imperial

[kikie]

Did a search and could find a specific thread about this subject.

Everybody knows the difference between metric and imperial (general) system.
I never learned to use the imperial system and maybe it's for the better. It's seems to be more difficult to use than the metric system. Just play with decimal point (so to speak) and you have the basics. Imperial on the other hand is not so straight forward.

The last few years, I came across American scientists (on the internet ofcourse) whom prefer the metric system over the imperial system.

I wonder which system is thought nowadays in school where imperial was the standard.

As many other members -I suppose- I like to watch documentaries and ofcourse films and tv series. I've noticed that more British/American documentaries/films are using the metric system more often. I wonder if this is because they know that their films/docu are also broadcasted in Europe or is there more to it.

Is there a shift in which system is getting the upper hand in countries that uses the imperial system?

Which system do you prefer?

 

[Roo]

In Britain we're taught the metric system in school, but with so many of the previous generation using imperial we tend to end up using both. A lot of children nowadays in my experience will use metric for lengths up to metres, then miles after that; they'll use kilograms for most weights, apart from body weight in stone; and metric for all liquids.

Personally I use either for everything, it just depends on who I'm talking to.

 

[Slash]

I live in the US and we use both. In school it depends on the class but 99% of the time we use both.

 

[Famine]

In Britain we're taught the metric system in school, but with so many of the previous generation using imperial we tend to end up using both. A lot of children nowadays in my experience will use metric for lengths up to metres, then miles after that; they'll use kilograms for most weights, apart from body weight in stone; and metric for all liquids.

Personally I use either for everything, it just depends on who I'm talking to.

Moreover, EU law requires metric and SI measurements to be used - with any additional measurements usable in addition. We're allowed special dispensation for this not to be the case on road signs...

Oddly, you'll see that the bloody stupid measurement of "PS" for engine power is often used as the additional, because manufacturers are required to use kW - as the SI unit - by law.

 

[Liquid]

We're allowed special dispensation for this not to be the case on road signs...

And draught beer must be sold by the pint. However, all new road signs must be easily convertible into kilometres, in the case of us going fully metric.

I have talked about this briefly before.

Measurements I use;

Metric

• Mililitres
• Celsius
• Metric tonnes
• Litres/Cubic centimetres (Engine displacement)

Imperal

• Inches
• Feet
• Yards
• Chain
• Furlong
• Miles
• Leagues
• Acre
• Pounds
• Stones
• Pints
• Imperial Gallons (Petrol)

Additional measurements I am familiar with, but don't use;

Grams, miligrams

Imperial hundredweight, hands, fingerbreadth, imperial barrels, barleycorns

 

[lbsf1]

In Britain we mostly use a mixture. Old people stick firmly to imperial, hence us teens have to know the basic conversions as most of our parents will prefer imperial.

Some items though are firmly in imperial, beer and milk by the pint and eggs by the dozen(The EU want to but a stop to this though ).

I use metric myself for everything, much easier just to times and divide by 10. However I can get by if someone talks about something in imperial.

 

[PeterJB]

I don't know which ones fit into which category, but I can use basically all of them anyway.

 

[Liquid]

Some items though are firmly in imperial, beer and milk by the pint and eggs by the dozen(The EU want to but a stop to this though ).

Milk must be sold in litres with pints [imperial measurement of choice] as a supplementary measurement. So milk bottlers produce milk in sizes of 568ml, 1.13L and 2.27L. Which happily converts to 1 pint, 2 pints and 4 pints. What's also convenient, is that even in a metric country like the Republic of Ireland, butter, for example, is sold in packets of 454g, which is conveniently 1lb.

The supplementary measurements must not be bigger than the legally required measurements. But as with draught beer and a few other certain products which escape me at this time, a few products are exempt from metrication and are exclusively in their traditional, imperial measurements.

I generally prefer using imperial measurements because I'm a bit of a traditionalist and more importantly, I'm more used to them. I have no concept of pure kilometres and will always have to convert it if I see or hear them.

 

[kikie]

Australians use the metric system?

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Metric is better, and this is something I stand by, even though I grew up predominantly using the imperial.

 

[Slash]

Metric is better, and this is something I stand by, even though I grew up predominantly using the imperial.

I don't think one is better than the other as I use them both equally excluding temperatures and units of speed such as MPH and KMH.

 

[Tornado]

The last few years, I came across American scientists (on the internet ofcourse) whom prefer the metric system over the imperial system.

I wonder which system is thought nowadays in school where imperial was the standard.

You use (and are taught) everything in imperial until you get to the middle school science classes. Then you use everything in SI units (metric).


As far as uses go, basically the only thing that is sold in metric is soda and some beer wine. Milk and orange juice is sold in gallons and quarts; and produce and the like is sold in pounds and ounces.

 

[terminator363]

I hate imperial so much. I also hate that they force us to learn it here in Canada.

 

[kikie]

Is there a sign that countries which are known for using the imperial system, are slowly converting to the metric system and drop the imperial system?
Afterall, the metric system is easier to use. You don't need to know anything about fractions, just use a comma.

 

[McLaren]

I live in the US and we use both. In school it depends on the class but 99% of the time we use both.

No, we don't. The US relies heavily on the imperial system & you can see it in the products sold here; Toronado listed some great examples.

The only time I have ever seen the metric system used is usually when related to science/math subjects, or if it's listed alongside imperial units as a secondary use.

 

[Tornado]

Is there a sign that countries which are known for using the imperial system, are slowly converting to the metric system and drop the imperial system?

I don't think there is any reason to think they are. The last time there was a push to convert to metric in America was the 1970s, and it didn't even get far enough to amount to anything more than a joke (but bottling companies switched over in anticipation, which is why soda is in metric).

And the UK is well known for the amount of resistance it has had to the EU trying to force them to switchover.

 

[Slash]

No, we don't. The US relies heavily on the imperial system & you can see it in the products sold here; Toronado listed some great examples.

The only time I have ever seen the metric system used is usually when related to science/math subjects, or if it's listed alongside imperial units as a secondary use.

I was talking about when I'm in school. Outside of school then yes you are correct.

 

[Exorcet]

1 ft means something to me, 1 m is an approximation of 3 ft. I can do calculations in either, but I prefer imperial data.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I don't think one is better than the other as I use them both equally excluding temperatures and units of speed such as MPH and KMH.

Metric is infinitely easier to do calculations with, and is based off of properties that, excluding mass, can be determined anywhere, assuming the laws of physics are the same. What exactly is 1 foot?

 

[Liquid]

What exactly is 1 foot?

12 inches or 30cm. 30.4cm, to be precise.

One thing I don't like about imperial measurements is time. Of course, the time system we use is SI but not metric. I think minutes, hours and so forth are the only non-metric SI measurements. Except for the second, which is metric, somewhat confusingly.

And I wouldn't even like fully metric time. I want decimalised time. Base 10.

 

[McLaren]

I was talking about when I'm in school. Outside of school then yes you are correct.

Choose how you structure your sentences next time, then, please.

 

[Slash]

Choose how you structure your sentences next time, then, please.

I thought it was quite clear


Next time though. ;D

Metric is infinitely easier to do calculations with, and is based off of properties that, excluding mass, can be determined anywhere, assuming the laws of physics are the same. What exactly is 1 foot?

As stupid as this sounds I always for some reason had a harder time grasping the metric system more so than the imperial system. Fractions seemed easier to remember. Not that I like fractions.

 

[McLaren]

I thought it was quite clear


Next time though. ;D

First sentence implies the US. Second sentence refers to which one schools use.

 

[Slash]

First sentence implies the US. Second sentence refers to which one schools use.

I see your point, my mistake.

 

[Bopop4]

I like the metric system for ease of use, but we have to use imperial in tech class.
I don't measure speed in metric though, I always prefer to use mph. It actually means something to me.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Metric wins and here's why:

 

[GranTurismo916]

I live in the US and we use both. In school it depends on the class but 99% of the time we use both.

Same here.

 

[Liquid]

Standard time isn't metric, and in the UK's defence, we use dd/mm/yy.

It's not arbitrary. Granted, it's irregular, but these things develop over time... I'll readily admit that metric is easier, but I personally just prefer imperial.

Except for celsius. I like celsius and kelvin.

 

[McLaren]

As stupid as this sounds I always for some reason had a harder time grasping the metric system more so than the imperial system. Fractions seemed easier to remember. Not that I like fractions.

It may be due to how they tend teach the imperial system from such a young age that you become accustomed to it after years of usage up until middle school where they finally introduce that the rest of the world uses metric; basically what Toronado said as well.

 

[Slash]

It may be due to how they tend teach the imperial system from such a young age that you become accustomed to it after years of usage up until middle school where they finally introduce that the rest of the world uses metric; basically what Toronado said as well.

That sounds like a logical explanation, pretty much what happens though.