NationStates Jolt Archive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Roman_weights_and_measures

I didn't know the American system of measurements was based off of the Roman one! Youppi! J'adore les romains parce qu'ils sont super-cools!

Because we went straight to the Romans, not from the British.

Because we went straight to the Romans, not from the British.

Exactly.

The metric system is mass defined. USCU are force defined. As a consequence, hydraulic and structural calculations are easier in the latter.

I find the whole bunch of trigonometrical calculations confusing enough without inconsistently incrementing measurement units.

The metric system is mass defined. USCU are force defined. As a consequence, hydraulic and structural calculations are easier in the latter.huh?

Mmmmmm...Force Newtons....mmmmmmm

huh?

It makes things easier. No gravity.

The metric system is mass defined. USCU are force defined. As a consequence, hydraulic and structural calculations are easier in the latter.
That's just complete nonsense. Calculations are calculations. The metric system is just a crutch for people who can't understand the basic units that describe properties of matter. If you can do dimensional analysis on units, there are no problems with calculating in any system.

It makes things easier. No gravity.
Right there, you show me you don't understand the difference between force and mass units. A slug is just as good as a kilogram.

i like my metric system.nice and simple for those of us without a degree in physics

Because we went straight to the Romans, not from the British.
How could Americans go "straight" to the Romans? Do you mean the Romans who colonized Wisconsin, or the Romans who lived on fishing communities in the Pacific North-West?
No, my friend. You got it from the French.