Americans, did you learn metric system in school?

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theLilAsimov
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24 Dec 2009, 4:43 am

Yes, I did learn the Metric system in school. In my high school, chemistry and physics used the metric system the most.

I find the Metric system rational and can't seem to wrap my head around why the U.S. hasn't switched to it completely. I mean, we're half way there, just look at packaged meat or other assortments of store items.


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DNForrest
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24 Dec 2009, 5:18 am

I was taught both before college, mostly through my science classes. The only time I'd use English units in college was during some of my senior engineering classes, when one of the professors would use them just to force us to go through the weird unit conversions. I always find it funny that in the US, even though the general public uses English units, almost all of our industry uses metric, simply because it's so much easier.



SirLogiC
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27 Dec 2009, 11:22 am

I'm Australian so yeah we only get taught metric. I remember in high school with I think gas volume calculations, the teacher showed why you could only use metric units, imperial units (temperature) didn't work for the equations.

Pretty sure its the same throughout chemistry and physics.

Anyway I think the metric system is beautiful:

1 gram = 1cm (centimetre) cubed of water
1000 grams = 1kg (kilogram) = 10cm cubed of water || 1 kilogram of water = exactly 1 litre of water
1000 kilograms = 1 ton = 1m (metre) cubed of water
0C = water freezing point || 100C = water boiling point
1 calory is the amount of energy to increase the temperature of exactly 1 litre of water by exactly 1 degrees C

As you can probably figure by now a lot of the metric units were* derived from water :P

*checking wikipedia it seems more "absolute" definitions are now used for many metric units but the above holds mostly true.



Tim_Tex
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28 Dec 2009, 11:01 pm

jc6chan wrote:
Audiophile wrote:
That's Illinois for ya. :roll:

Ya, the Illinois teaching system is so annoying


Seems to make Texas look great in comparison.


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Julia_the_Great
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29 Dec 2009, 11:47 am

Yes, in physics.


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Nika
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29 Dec 2009, 12:01 pm

Yes, but I went to a French school for elementary school. In high school, I went to an American school but we used the metric system in science classes such as Chemistry and Physics since it was much easier calculate ratios and the like with base-10 units.



Captain_Kirk
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02 Jan 2010, 12:27 am

Yeah, we learned it. Once. Then we just did the standard system. By the time you get to high school, kids are so accustomed to the "standard" system that they can't figure out the metric system once they get to physics. Besides, everything in this country is basically measured in standard. A gallon of milk, a 5 dollar foot long sub, etc. It's America, of course it's not going to make any sense.



jc6chan
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02 Jan 2010, 9:38 pm

Tim_Tex wrote:
jc6chan wrote:
Audiophile wrote:
That's Illinois for ya. :roll:

Ya, the Illinois teaching system is so annoying


Seems to make Texas look great in comparison.

The Texas teaching system is so excellent. Is that what you meant?



Bethie
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09 Aug 2010, 9:50 pm

jc6chan wrote:
Did you learn metric system in school and use it a lot?
I'm Canadian and I was wondering if you used metric system in, say, physics.

I remember in physics if you use metric system the units fit nicely with the SI units no matter how much you fiddle around with formulas and equations. So do you use metric system in physics or do you use other systems where the units fit in nicely?

Just wondering...


No. We did one unit on it in seventh grade, and never used it again.

I can't even tell you what the basic units are, and certainly don't think in the terms of the Metric syctem.


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Blasty
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10 Aug 2010, 12:35 am

We learned it, and as an Electrical Engineering student, I use it more in my studies than the imperial system.

I must say I do prefer the simplicity, versatility, and standardization of the metric system, even though I grew up on (and still picture things in) imperial units. Even though metric makes more sense, if I go to build something out of wood or metal in the shop I still do it in inches and feet just because that's the standard here, and I'm used to it.

It is a bit of a hassle having to keep both imperial and metric tools on hand, though. My American car seems to require both. :lol:

I would fully support the metrication of the US, but I'm sure it would be far too costly to actually take place. Until then, I have a good grasp on both systems, and the conversions between the two.