Weather Banter - View Single Post - misc.metric-system

Phred · November 14th 03, 01:42 PM posted to sci.geo.meteorology,rec.org.mensa

In article ,
wrote:
On Thu, 13 Nov 2003 14:01:16 -0500, "John Gilmer"
wrote:
[...]
The number 10 isn't even the most important number in the modern
metric system. The number 1000, with preferred prefixes those which
are powers of 1000, is also pretty important. But the number which is
really important is the number ONE. The SI is a "coherent" system of
units, as that term is used in metrology. That means that all the
derived units are some unitary combination of the base units.

WhenI was at secondary school the "standard" metric system being
taught in physics/chemistry was the CGS system. However, our science
master was astute enough to realise that the MKS system was the way of
the future, so he taught us both.

Now, some decades down the track, the thing I still find most annoying
about claims for the "rationality" of the SI is the bloody kilogram!
If the kilogram is a basic unit, then the gram should be a
millikilogram.

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID