Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
The metric system irrationally defines some units in terms of other units to which they are unrelated. As for instance the gram being the mass of one cc of water. Why water rather than mercury or hydrogen? Purely arbitrary.
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Water is the base of life on Earth, very easy to find. Much easier to find, contain, manipulate and weigh, than mercury or hydrogen. Had we evolved elsewhere, we may have used methane or ammonia. As I wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piwoslaw
The actual scalar length of the meter is more or less arbitrary, just like the inch or pound. On Earth or on a different planet, neither is better.
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We all know that the transition from imperial to metric units will not be easy nor cheap. But if it were started today, then would it be
relatively less expensive, than had it been done in the 1970's? And if we wait another 30 or 50 years, will the change be still easier and cheaper then?
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e·co·mod·ding: the art of turning vehicles into what they should be
What matters is
where you're going, not
how fast.
"... we humans tend to screw up everything that's good enough as it is...or everything that we're attracted to, we love to go and defile it." - Chris Cornell
[Old] Piwoslaw's Peugeot 307sw modding thread