The White Falcon - 22.03.1974, Qupperneq 3

The Metric System
Mass

The mass of a gram is based on
the weight of a milliliter of wa-
ter and there are about 28 1/3
grams in an ounce. A pound is
about 454 grams. There are
roughly 2.2 pounds to the kilo-
gram. Coincidently, the metric
n or megagram (1000 kilograms)
almost exactly equal to a long
ton, the ton used in figuring
ship displacements.
0
olume
A liter is so close to a quart
that it is quibbling to worry
about the difference when estima-
ting. A milliliter is the same
as a cubic centimeter.
Article and graphics
by Gary Grady
The United States, in all
probability, will soon start a
10-year program to convert to the
metric system of weights and mea-
sures. The move was proposed by
the Bureau of Standards and is
supported by the Administration.
Why make the change? First of
all, the U.S. is the only devel-
oped country (and one of less
than a dozen nations) not already
on or converting to the metric
system. We are behind the times.
Moreover, the metric system is
far simpler and easier to use
than the old English system. Not
only are English units ambiguous
(fluid ounces, troy ounces,
avoirdupois ounces etc.) but they
are interrelated by a maze of
conversion factors. It is quite
a task to remember that there are
16 ounces in a pound (except in
troy weight, when there are 12),
four quarts to the gallon, three
feet in a yard and 1,760 yards in
a mile.
A metric user needs only to
recall that centi- means 1/100,
milli- means 1/1000 and kilo-
means 1000. For example, a kilo-
gram is 1000 grams, a centimeter
is 1/100 of a meter and a milli-
liter is 1/1000 of a liter.
Suppose you want to know the
number of centimeters in a kilo-
meter. Since there are 100 cen-
timeters in a meter and 1000 me-
ters in a kilometer, there must
be 100 X 1000 or 100,000 centime-
ters in a kilometer. Simple,
huh? If you're still not con-
vinced, try calculating the num-
ber of inches in a mile...
Length
An inch is defined by
law to be 2.54 centime-
ters. For estimating, 2
1/2 centimeters per inch
is close enough. There
are roughly 39 inches in
a meter—just over a yard
or about 3 1/4 feet.
March 22, 1974
Speed
A kilometer is just under 2/3
mile and a mile is just over 1
i/2 kilometers. Here are some
common metric and American speed
limits and their equivalents:
MILES/HOUR...KILOMETERS/HOUR
15.. .25
20.. .32
21.. .34
25.. .40
27.. .45
35.. .56
42.. .70
45.. .72
55.. .88
Temperature
To convert Fahrenheit to Cel-
sius subtract 32, multiply by 5
and divide by 9. To go the other
way multiply the Celsius figure
by 9, divide by 5 and add 32. In
other words, use the chart below.
At oven temperatures it is
easiest to double Celsius to get
Fahrenheit or halve Fahrenheit to
15.6-
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