Recent Comments
- Ian on Who should pay for metrication of road signs?
- John Steele on The generation gap
- Richard Ational on The generation gap
- comparator on Which? sees the light – and Panorama joins in
- Ezra Steinberg on FAQs about the transition to metric signs on UK roads
-
Subscribe comments via RSS
Meta
Categories
Category Archives: Technical
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
How big is that oil spill?
A reader of Metric Views points out that confusion on the reporting of this disaster is not limited to the UK.
Posted in Media, Technical, Views from abroad
8 Comments
An improvement in the weather
A recent exchange of e-mails between Ezra, a reader of MetricViews in the USA, and Tony, in the UK, suggests that recent years have seen changes for the better in weather reporting in the both the UK and Canada. Do … Continue reading
Posted in General, Media, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged metrication, pressure, rainfall, snow depth, temperature, visibility
11 Comments
How should we measure energy (and power)?
The recent consultation on so-called “calories” on menus, together with the launch of more new models of electric cars has prompted these thoughts on the dysfunctional way in which we measure energy and power. This muddle reflects a lack of … Continue reading
Joules on the menu, please
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).
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health, Media, Technical
Tagged calorie, energy, Food Standards Agency, FSA, joule, metrication, Royal Society
13 Comments
Spare a thought for any would-be Brysons out there
What 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)
Why do nautical miles linger on?
I 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 … Continue reading
Posted in General, History, Technical, Transport
Tagged aviation, Chinook, knot, nautical mile
27 Comments
Electric cars – an opportunity for SI, or a threat?
The arrival of electric cars on our streets will draw attention to measures for comparing performance.
Posted in Consumer affairs, Technical, Transport
Tagged car, fuel consumption, power output
12 Comments
An anniversary overlooked
This year marks 125 years since the United Kingdom signed the Metre Convention.
Will science training for MPs help?
A 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 … Continue reading
Posted in Education, General, Technical
8 Comments