Will the US ever convert to Metric?

Question

Why hasn't the US converted to the Metric System? Think it will happen in our lifetime? Why or why not?

Answer 1

I can't believe that they haven't converted already. Putting it off is just silly and lazy, at some point people will be forced to learn a new system. The longer you wait the more the rest of the world will move on to a more logical and simple system. I don't think that voting on a system makes any sense as people will always vote with what they're used to. Just suck it up and move into the 20th century. Also that base 12 stuff was hilarious, the guy isn't serious is he?

Answer 2

Well in my personal view I do not think we should switch to metric I believe we should do what this guy says.

From the website: http://gregable.blogspot.com/2007/04/metric-vs-imperial.html

If both our number system and metric system were base 12, life would be even simpler. The problem with 10 (or powers of 2) is that it can't be cut in thirds. 1/3 of a mile is 5,280 ft / 3 = 1,760 feet - an integer. 1/3 of a kilometer is 333.3333333.... meters, neither an integer nor a trivially representable decimal. 1/3 of a unit in base 12 is 4 of the next smaller units. 4 is cleaner than 1,760 or 3.3.... Base 12 units are the smallest units cleanly divisible by 2,3, and 4. We could go up to 2,3,4 and 5, but that would require base 60 which for a 1st grader is a little unwieldy when learning all of the digits. 12 is the sweet spot. I'd rather be able to divide things by 3 (more often needed) than 5 if I had to pick. You could even go down to base 6 to simplify further, but that prevents you from dividing cleanly by 4, which seems useful.

What already uses a power of base 12 as it's base?
Geometry: 360 degrees in a circle: 12*6*6 = 360
Time: 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in a hour, 24 hours in a day: 12*2 = 24, 12*5 = 60
Imperial: 5,280 ft in a mile, 12 inches in a foot: 12 * 440
Eggs: 12 eggs in a dozen: dozen = 12 * 1

Answer 3

The US already uses the Metric System for currency, but is unlikely to move to it for "weights & measures" because of the enormous cost to industry (retooling) that would entail.

Fundamentally, adopting the Metric system offers no benefit to regular folks in daily life, and in those technical settings where it typically does provide a benefit (science, technology, etc.) it has in reality already been adopted in the US.

Answer 4

No. The problem is learning curve for older people not younger. The older people in the country are used to the english system of measurement, and they will stick with it, and have a hard time adapting to a new system. I couldn't imagine buying gasoline by the litre. As long as schools teach the english system, and not both equally it will never change. Once you get older it is difficult to adapt.

Answer 5

we are slowly changing. motor vehicle engines are actually figured in liters extremely of cubic inches, drinks are actually offered in Liter and a pair of Liter Bottles extremely of quarts. Even Alcohol has switched from the a million/5 of a gallon to 3/4 of a liter. (750 ml). very nearly all nuts and bolts on engines and residential equipment are new metric. as quickly as nutrition is offered by ability of the gram extremely of the ounce, the country would be waiting for the exchange over.

Answer 6

The US has converted and will convert as it makes sense. My lifetime is probably much shorter than yours. Seriously, with all the problems of drugs and crime and people who don't think, we have more important things to worry about than metric conversion.

Answer 7

Britain has a dual system and they just voted down going only metric.

Answer 8

It has been tried but so far it has not taken .