Author: John Bemelmans Marciano
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 160819941X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
The intriguing tale of why the United States has never adopted the metric system, and what that says about us. The American standard system of measurement is a unique and odd thing to behold with its esoteric, inconsistent standards: twelve inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, sixteen ounces in a pound, one hundred pennies to the dollar. For something as elemental as counting and estimating the world around us, it seems like a confusing tool to use. So how did we end up with it? Most of the rest of the world is on the metric system, and for a time in the 1970s America appeared ready to make the switch. Yet it never happened, and the reasons for that get to the root of who we think we are, just as the measurements are woven into the ways we think. John Marciano chronicles the origins of measurement systems, the kaleidoscopic array of standards throughout Europe and the thirteen American colonies, the combination of intellect and circumstance that resulted in the metric system's creation in France in the wake of the French Revolution, and America's stubborn adherence to the hybrid United States Customary System ever since. As much as it is a tale of quarters and tenths, it is a human drama, replete with great inventors, visionary presidents, obsessive activists, and science-loving technocrats. Anyone who reads this inquisitive, engaging story will never read Robert Frost's line “miles to go before I sleep” or eat a foot-long sub again without wondering, Whatever happened to the metric system?
Whatever Happened to the Metric System?
Author: John Bemelmans Marciano
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 160819941X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
The intriguing tale of why the United States has never adopted the metric system, and what that says about us. The American standard system of measurement is a unique and odd thing to behold with its esoteric, inconsistent standards: twelve inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, sixteen ounces in a pound, one hundred pennies to the dollar. For something as elemental as counting and estimating the world around us, it seems like a confusing tool to use. So how did we end up with it? Most of the rest of the world is on the metric system, and for a time in the 1970s America appeared ready to make the switch. Yet it never happened, and the reasons for that get to the root of who we think we are, just as the measurements are woven into the ways we think. John Marciano chronicles the origins of measurement systems, the kaleidoscopic array of standards throughout Europe and the thirteen American colonies, the combination of intellect and circumstance that resulted in the metric system's creation in France in the wake of the French Revolution, and America's stubborn adherence to the hybrid United States Customary System ever since. As much as it is a tale of quarters and tenths, it is a human drama, replete with great inventors, visionary presidents, obsessive activists, and science-loving technocrats. Anyone who reads this inquisitive, engaging story will never read Robert Frost's line “miles to go before I sleep” or eat a foot-long sub again without wondering, Whatever happened to the metric system?
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 160819941X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 418
Book Description
The intriguing tale of why the United States has never adopted the metric system, and what that says about us. The American standard system of measurement is a unique and odd thing to behold with its esoteric, inconsistent standards: twelve inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, sixteen ounces in a pound, one hundred pennies to the dollar. For something as elemental as counting and estimating the world around us, it seems like a confusing tool to use. So how did we end up with it? Most of the rest of the world is on the metric system, and for a time in the 1970s America appeared ready to make the switch. Yet it never happened, and the reasons for that get to the root of who we think we are, just as the measurements are woven into the ways we think. John Marciano chronicles the origins of measurement systems, the kaleidoscopic array of standards throughout Europe and the thirteen American colonies, the combination of intellect and circumstance that resulted in the metric system's creation in France in the wake of the French Revolution, and America's stubborn adherence to the hybrid United States Customary System ever since. As much as it is a tale of quarters and tenths, it is a human drama, replete with great inventors, visionary presidents, obsessive activists, and science-loving technocrats. Anyone who reads this inquisitive, engaging story will never read Robert Frost's line “miles to go before I sleep” or eat a foot-long sub again without wondering, Whatever happened to the metric system?
Metric in Minutes
Author: Dennis R. Brownridge
Publisher: Professional Publications Incorporated
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 120
Book Description
Covers everything you need to know about the metric system (système internationale, SI), from its history to practical tips on conversions and problem solving.
Publisher: Professional Publications Incorporated
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 120
Book Description
Covers everything you need to know about the metric system (système internationale, SI), from its history to practical tips on conversions and problem solving.
Metric Units and Conversion Charts
Author: Theodore Wildi
Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press
ISBN:
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
Metric Units and Conversion Charts A Metrication Handbook for Engineers, Technologists, and Scientists Second Edition Why waste your valuable time hunting for conversion factors, symbols, and units? With this handbook, you can convert from one measurement system to any other by means of 62 conversion charts covering almost every field of science. The charts are based on values published by the foremost authoritative sources such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). The charts are universal, and so conversions can be made quickly and confidently. This much-expanded second edition has the following features: * The charts make a clear distinction between SI and other metric units by identifying SI units by red boxes. * Official symbols of all SI units are given, along with the name of the unit. * The recommended symbols for quantities are shown at the top of each chart. * A new chapter on mass, force and gravity explains how the units of force were established. * For introductory courses, chapters are included explaining quantity equations and numerical equations, together with worked-out examples. * For classroom work, over 100 review questions, together with answers.
Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press
ISBN:
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
Metric Units and Conversion Charts A Metrication Handbook for Engineers, Technologists, and Scientists Second Edition Why waste your valuable time hunting for conversion factors, symbols, and units? With this handbook, you can convert from one measurement system to any other by means of 62 conversion charts covering almost every field of science. The charts are based on values published by the foremost authoritative sources such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). The charts are universal, and so conversions can be made quickly and confidently. This much-expanded second edition has the following features: * The charts make a clear distinction between SI and other metric units by identifying SI units by red boxes. * Official symbols of all SI units are given, along with the name of the unit. * The recommended symbols for quantities are shown at the top of each chart. * A new chapter on mass, force and gravity explains how the units of force were established. * For introductory courses, chapters are included explaining quantity equations and numerical equations, together with worked-out examples. * For classroom work, over 100 review questions, together with answers.
Information on the Metric System and Related Fields
Author: Ernst Lange
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Metric Units in Engineering--going SI
Author: Cornelius Wandmacher
Publisher: Amer Society of Civil Engineers
ISBN: 9780784400708
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 319
Book Description
Wandmacher and Johnson provide guidance for practicing engineers, students, and educators who are adopting and using the International System of Units in their engineering work.
Publisher: Amer Society of Civil Engineers
ISBN: 9780784400708
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 319
Book Description
Wandmacher and Johnson provide guidance for practicing engineers, students, and educators who are adopting and using the International System of Units in their engineering work.
Conversion to the Metric System of Weights and Measures, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development..., 93-1, March 19, 20, 21, 22; May 9, 10, 1973
Author: United States. Congress. House. Science and Astronautics Committee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 682
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 682
Book Description
Conversion to the Metric System of Weights and Measures
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics. Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 676
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 676
Book Description
THE METRIC SYSTEM, HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEEON MANUFACTURERS UNITED STATES SENATE
Carpentry & Building Construction
Author: William P. Spence
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 9780806998459
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 708
Book Description
Carpentry & Building Construction is a comprehensive collection of information for do-it-yourselfers. It serves not only as an excellent introduction for novices to various projects, but also as a valuable reference guide for more experienced carpenters.
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 9780806998459
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 708
Book Description
Carpentry & Building Construction is a comprehensive collection of information for do-it-yourselfers. It serves not only as an excellent introduction for novices to various projects, but also as a valuable reference guide for more experienced carpenters.
The Metric System
Author: Alexander Graham Bell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 18
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Metric system
Languages : en
Pages : 18
Book Description