Re: [Phys-l] Will the US ever switch to the metric system?

[William Robertson <wrobert9@ix.netcom.com>]

I believe it would take more than road signs to effect the change. A  
number of years ago, interstate highways sported distance signs in  
both English and metric units. The signs disappeared after a while. Do  
we need a "stimulus package" that consists of needless spending on  
such things? Wouldn't make it all that different from other stimulus  
spending, but .........

Bill



On Jan 12, 2011, at 6:52 PM, Andrew Duffy wrote:

> Having grown up in Canada, I remember the Gimli Glider incident -  
> tremendous piloting, to be sure. I am so fond of that story and the  
> Mars Climate Orbiter story that I reference them both in an intro.  
> physics book I wrote (but that's a whole other story).
>
> The Gimli Glider happened during the time Canada was switching from  
> English units to the metric system - that was a huge factor in not  
> filling the plane with enough fuel.
>
> So, do you think the US will ever give up the English system of  
> units? How many other countries, if any, are also still using the  
> English system? Converting the country to the metric system could be  
> an economic stimulus package all by itself, don't you think? All  
> those new road signs, etc. etc....
>
> Anyone know John Boehner well enough to propose the idea?
>
> - Andrew Duffy
> Department of Physics
> Boston University
>
>
> Stefan Jeglinski said:
>
> > Ran across the story of the Gimli Glider, which in part seems at
> > least as impressive as the USAir flight that ditched in the Hudson.
> > Had never heard of it, due in part to changes in media coverage but
> > also how much I was really paying attn 27 years ago.
> >
> > Came across the story after reading the story of the Mars Climate
> > Orbiter and its demise due to a similar variant.
> >
> > Good time, at the beginning of the semester, to remind students of
> > the real-world ramifications (money + lives) of units and their
> > conversion!
> >
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Climate_Orbiter
> >
> >
> > Stefan Jeglinski
>
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