The very worthy proposal of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that menus should state energy values is undermined by its failure to use proper measurement units. UKMA has responded by advocating joules rather than so-called “calories” (whatever they may be).
Archive for the ‘Technical’ Category
Joules on the menu, please
Thursday, March 11th, 2010Spare a thought for any would-be Brysons out there
Sunday, February 21st, 2010What units do you choose when you are writing travel books and other popular non-fiction for English speakers, wherever they might be found? (Article written by a reader of Bill Bryson’s books) (more…)
Why do nautical miles linger on?
Friday, January 1st, 2010I recently had an exchange of correspondence with an acquaintance (a former RAF pilot) who tried to explain to me why most of the world of aviation still uses nautical miles and knots rather than kilometres and km/h. The explanation went like this.
Electric cars – an opportunity for SI, or a threat?
Friday, December 4th, 2009The arrival of electric cars on our streets will draw attention to measures for comparing performance.
An anniversary overlooked
Saturday, September 26th, 2009This year marks 125 years since the United Kingdom signed the Metre Convention. (more…)
Will science training for MPs help?
Sunday, December 7th, 2008A report in the Times that new MPs are to get some scientific training poses the question: will this help them to understand why we need to scrap non-scientific imperial units and embrace the modern metric system? (Article based on a draft by Martin Vlietstra)
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Seventh UK scientist honoured by CGPM
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008The contribution of British engineers and scientists to the development of the international metric system is well known. What is less well known is that in addition to the six SI units that are named after British scientists and engineers, there is a seventh unit approved for use with SI (article based on contribution by Martin Vlietstra).
No Olympic games without measurement
Sunday, May 25th, 2008Accurate and consistent measurement is fundamental to modern life, and in few branches of human activity is it more important than in sport – including, of course, the Olympic Games. This is the message given by Andrew Wallard, the President of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) to mark World Metrology Day (article suggested by Martin Vlietstra).
Visionary sci-fi writer uses metric
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008The 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 part of a global communications network.
http://lakdiva.org/clarke/1945ww/1945ww_oct_305-308.html
It was quite fitting that his orbital calculations and other details were entirely in metric in recognition of the future as seen from early post-war England.
A critic writes – and a response
Wednesday, November 14th, 2007UKMA’s Chairman received the following critical letter from a thoughtful correspondent (a student or teacher of physics). As it is better argued than most efforts from defenders of imperial measures, it was thought that it was worth publishing (slightly edited to conceal his identity) – together with Robin’s reply.