why doesnt the usa?

Question

use metric weights and measures

see! i can ask sensible questions too !

Answer 1

Everybody in science or math already does in the US. It's one heck of a lot easier to do problems in it. Since it's being taught in schools now, it's very slowly catching on, and I've even seen some states that have dual-signage speed limit signs. As you probably know, the US lost a satellite around Mars because of a mix-up in kilometers and miles, so it would certainly behoove us to get with the rest of the world and adopt the metrics. Unfortunately, there is a LOT of infrastructure that has to be updated to accommodate this, and a lot of old, resistant-to-change folks who cling to outmoded systems that need to die off before the metric system is totally accepted.

Answer 2

The USA uses both systems. Science has always promoted metric systems perhaps to obtain peer review of technical papers around the world. Engineers have often favored existing systems for weights and measures because they are free to do so and must base major changes on economic considerations. It would not make much sense to destroy the country's industrial infrastructure and buy all new (european made?) machines as replacements without a compelling reason, especially money. All existing machines would likely become obsolete, losing vast sums of money for investors, and losing jobs for US workers. The English system can often be visualized (pounds per square inch?) whereas the metric system (newton-meters?) is less descriptive. Therefore metric systems have advantages in simple math (16 mm vs 1 7/8ths) but the English system is easier to think about (for some people).

Answer 3

The USA is gradually changing to metric - when our customers require it.

This is happening in the scientific area first, but gradually happening in the automotive sector as imported cars and components are imported to the USA.

The problem isn't that metric is more difficult (it is easier), it is because people are more likely to make mistakes (look at the NASA Mars probe that missed the planet because of a metric/inch conversion error).

People make the conversion back and forth all the time and it doesn't cause a real problem, but until our customers (overseas customers) require metric, or to be compete with metric-based competitors, we'll keep producing inch dimensions.

Answer 4

why, is there something wrong with standard weights and measures?
In the mid '70s a push was made to convert the USA to the metric system. It just found no favor in mainstream America. You can always use a simple program to convert either way, so whats the b.f.d.

Answer 5

I know a number of people from Canada that had to convert to the metric system in the late 70's early 80's. To this day they still convert metric to standard. It's what they are used to.

There really isn't any need to convert to the metric system for the general population.

Answer 6

cuzz the USA has a strong English/British heritage thus the English system is the norm in our culture. most scientific calcs. (physics, chem.,biology, etc... ) use metric based units because of the common relationship to the number "10"

much real investment has been committed to the old British system and just exactly how are we really "suffering" as a society by NOT converting exclusively to metrics??? most educated people can handle a conversion equation if it is a problem.

Answer 7

Because they don't have the intelectual capacity to overcome the ingrained society and accept the simpler method.

Also because they like being awkward.

Proof of the above theory is that their (clever) scientists use metric SI units. However there have been some times when they've been sent instructions in metric and they've made stuff in Imperial.

Answer 8

good question... because they like their system, I guess...

But another question for you (to make you think on yours) :

why don't we use a 10 (or 100) hour day system? why do we all keep that dreadfull 24hours day system?
Or that 30day months system?
some calendars use other types of "months" and work fairly well (and don't say because of bisextile years... it's a false reason : the 12 months calendar needs correcting all the time, as would any other calendar...)

what I can tell you though, is that the french changed their currency in 1960 from "ancien franc" to "nouveau franc" with an easy conversion system : 1 nouveau franc = 100 ancien francs
now, we changed to euros... and old people still talk in "ancien franc"... 45 years latter, some people are still using the old system !

I hope you can see the problem : you have to convince EVERYONE to use the new system to change something that big...

Answer 9

Probably because they don't want to.


In Canada, we switched many years back, but we still are caught between the two systems. Weights and measures are pretty easy to bounce between the two systems but Celsius has got to go as a measure of temperature in a non-scientific setting. It just doesn't provide enough refinement. For my furnace, there is a big difference between 21 degrees and 22, not to mention trying to figure out a fever in and outside the range of normal.

My recipe books are still mainly in imperial measures and I make fewer mistakes with those.

Answer 10

I think that is a fabulous question! It would be so much easier! We wouldn't have to get all befuddled every time we visit other countries!! It's actually been proposed several times by the government, and each time failed...another throwback to revolutionary times, I think, when we wanted to be COMPLETELY different than the British. Now I think it's just silly! I can't always remember conversions, etc, but in metric it's easy!!! I think we should.