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Author Archives: philh
Why is it important to weigh ourselves in kg?
The measurement mess in Britain is in itself reason enough for the discontinued use of stones and pounds for personal body mass (commonly weight), but is there a case for using kilograms that goes beyond this? This article proposes that … Continue reading
Sign clutter campaign misses obvious target
The UK Metric Association (UKMA) welcomes today’s announcement by the government of an attack on unnecessary sign clutter, but believes that some obvious targets have been missed: in particular, the Department for Transport’s requirements for local authorities to use multiple … Continue reading
Posted in Road signs, Transport
14 Comments
Is there room for non-standard units within SI?
One of the main advantages of SI – the metric system – is that it can be used for any measurement task (from the kitchen to the science lab) – thus avoiding the need to learn a plethora of specific … Continue reading
Posted in Technical
3 Comments
Metric, a truly natural system
At the time of writing NASA scientists are eagerly awaiting the results of soil sampling from their latest Martian probe Phoenix. Crucial to that experiment is confirmation of the presence of water. That precious substance essential to all life both … Continue reading
Posted in Education, General, History
3 Comments
Visionary sci-fi writer uses metric
The late Arthur C Clarke who died this month (March 2008) wrote what may be regarded as his most memorable non-fiction article in 1945. He was the first person to propose the use of satellites in geostationary orbit to form … Continue reading
Using metric – accuracy v precision
A fellow metric supporter who admits to being a little weak on mathematics owned up to not understanding the difference between accuracy and precision when it comes to measurement. He is probably right in saying that he is not alone … Continue reading
Posted in Technical
2 Comments
Units of alcohol – rational metric sizes would solve the problem
Today’s TV news carried a leading story that units of alcohol will be appearing on all bottles, cans cartons etc of alcoholic drinks. People were asked in the street what they thought of this move. Several people asked, what’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, Health
7 Comments
Metrication – a historical perspective
I have submitted this blog article to draw attention to and allow comment on an historical account of metrication in the UK written in 1980.
Posted in History
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Sensationalising with the help of Fahrenheit
Today I notice an item in “The Sun” newspaper a headline (approx from memory) “Marathon runner collapses in 73° heat”
Posted in Media
5 Comments
Crazy acres
Of all the traditions that are kept alive today the acre for land measurement has to be one of the daftest. (Article by Phil Hall)
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, Media
10 Comments