What do you think about establishing a world wide system of units based on natural, fundamental measurements?

Question

Well you have the Planck length, that could be the fundamental unit of length (we would have prefixes of coarse, so don't even try the argument about the measurement being inappropriate to use, it's like disregarding the metric system because you don't want to measure your height in picometers...)

Anyway, planck length for length, the speed of light for speed (or maybe the slowest possible speed derived from the shortest distance and time possible, I don't know)

I'm getting distracted, so just tell me your ideas.

"metric is based on water why not use that. and plank is based on way to much math for a kid to ba able to convert and to measure something small you would have to use scientific notation or several decimal places. but i do like the idea of useing universal constants but not really practical for normal day to day use."

I added a whole section in parenthesis for exactly this response. I suggest you read it.

"Maybe it's a more elegant system, but most people are just trying to get on with their lives and have other things to worry about than translating inches to planck lengths"

Haha, you use inches ^_^

People also have enough problems converting inches to (centi)meters, that's why we need a world wide system.

"They would, however, be very impractical for use in every day life. Distances, mass, time measurements, etc., would all become either extremely large numbers, or extreme small numbers (depending on the property you're tlaking about). It would make even the most simple of measurements unweildy and frustrating."

Read the damn question!

"That is an interesting idea. For example, the acceleration due to gravity on Earth could be 1 unit per second squared. But, I think it would be easier if we just all switched to metric. It has an easy 10th exponent thing going on. You have a nice idea, but i think we've dug ourselves too deep to switch now."

We could easily do the multiple of 10 system with my idea, the base is the only thing that would be changed.

"t's not a bad idea but if we do this we shouldn't take an "earth-centric" approach. That is we should assume we are getting off this rock at some point."

You may have noticed that everyhting I said applied universally.

"n attacking any problems involving measurements. It is better to use a simple solution with a simpler base.
Complexity in our solutions will increase the probability of errors."

The base equals one! The base always equals one! The size of one is just changed, it isn't such a hard concept people...

Answer 1

It's a unique achievement that the metric system, which is highly rational, is so widely used. Think of all those hopeless systems we use of time and the calendar, and all those confusing metrics that are sometimes mixed up with metric units, such as calories, parsecs, light years, electron volts, G's (gravitational acceleration), mm Hg (for blood pressure and such).

If you want to improve on the way things are measured, make the Americans adopt the metric system, and let's get rid of all the non-metric units. Also, it would be nice if we could shift to a 100-quarter, 100,000 seconds day. But I'm afraid it will be quite difficult.

Answer 2

It's already been done. Theoretical physicists sometimes use planck units to make calculations simpler.

They would, however, be very impractical for use in every day life. Distances, mass, time measurements, etc., would all become either extremely large numbers, or extreme small numbers (depending on the property you're tlaking about). It would make even the most simple of measurements unweildy and frustrating.

Answer 3

It's not a bad idea but if we do this we shouldn't take an "earth-centric" approach. That is we should assume we are getting off this rock at some point.

For example you'll find references to AU (Astronomical Units) when you look at a macro level. An AU is the distance between the Earth and Sun. Not such an applicable scale when you take it other places. It's almost like measuring the king's foot in the old imperial systems.

Answer 4

That is an interesting idea. For example, the acceleration due to gravity on Earth could be 1 unit per second squared. But, I think it would be easier if we just all switched to metric. It has an easy 10th exponent thing going on. You have a nice idea, but i think we've dug ourselves too deep to switch now.

Answer 5

I think it would be confusing for the average person. What we have now works, so why reinvent the wheel? Maybe it's a more elegant system, but most people are just trying to get on with their lives and have other things to worry about than translating inches to planck lengths. What would really be gained?

Answer 6

metric is based on water why not use that. and plank is based on way to much math for a kid to ba able to convert and to measure something small you would have to use scientific notation or several decimal places. but i do like the idea of useing universal constants but not really practical for normal day to day use.

Answer 7

In attacking any problems involving measurements. It is better to use a simple solution with a simpler base.
Complexity in our solutions will increase the probability of errors.

Answer 8

Do you mean Natural Logarithms? What's wrong with the metric system?

Answer 9

We should probably stick with the metric system..

Answer 10

We have something like that.... Its called Metric