Why Isn’t the U.S. on the Metric System?
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Countries on the metric system shown in green
The metric system was first proposed as a daily use system of measurement by Flemish mathematician Simon Stevin, in his 1586 pamphlet De Thiende (“The Tenth”). At the time, different regions had their own units of measurement, along with their own arbitrary methods of measurement. However, it did not catch on, and it would be 200 years before France would become the first country to make the switch in 1791. The rest of the world slowly followed suit until the 11th General Conference on Weights and Measures created the International System of Units in 1960. Over the course of the last 50 years, every country on the planet has adopted the metric system as its official unit of measurement except for Burma (Myanmar), Liberia, and the United States.
Now you might not think this is such a big deal, and is solely a matter of convenience, but here’s what happens when everyone is not on the same page.
The use of two different systems was the root cause in the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter in 1998. NASA specified metric units in the contract. NASA and other organizations worked in metric units, but one subcontractor, Lockheed Martin, provided thruster performance data to the team in pound force seconds instead of newton seconds. The spacecraft was intended to orbit Mars at about 150 kilometers (93 mi) altitude, but the incorrect data meant that it probably descended instead to about 57 kilometers (35 mi), burning up in the Martian atmosphere.
I was wondering why the U.S. hadn’t adopted the metric system when I came across a Wikipedia article about it, so i didn’t have to write one myself. It’s an incredibly in depth article, and if you’ve ever wondered about this, you should check it out.
Metrication in the United States via Wikipedia
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Wow, That is crazy about the space shuttle. As a Chemist, I am all about the metric system too. the US measurement system has no logic behind it, and in this day of technology, isn't practical anymore. The two major things I see been an issue due to cost are change over text books and changing over labels (especially street signs/mile markers). Even converting everything except automotive measurements would make a huge difference!
The metric system is just so easy, isn't it? It's ironic you mention labels,
though, as most labels have the US system, as well as the metric conversion,
and the FDA gives its recommended daily allowance numbers in metric. At this
point, I think people just don't care enough to make it standard, especially
when so many people have voluntarily started using it. I think the reason is
largely political, too (read:”We don't need no stinkin government tellin us
how to measure stuff”)
yeah, metric is way easier. You don't really have to think about conversions. None of that ounce nonsense either.