Use of Metrication System in the US
Student Name
ECPI University
ENG120 Advanced Composition
Prof. Josiah De Priest
21 Mar 2023
Use of Metrication System in the Us
Intuitive and quick math is how man came up with the metric system. Even though the metric system is more convenient for international travel, it has a significant problem when dealing with fractional measurements. American opposition to the metric system stems solely from the fact that fractions cannot be measured. Surprisingly, it aids in obtaining precise numbers by minimizing the room for error. The International System of Units (SI) is a component of most modern metric systems since it allows for a more straightforward measurement of quantities. To maintain sustainability, the United States should work toward adopting the existing metric system. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when modern machinery was first developed, the United States has used the SI (Hicks et al., 2019). Despite this, research indicates that because of superiority, widespread acceptance, and precise solutions, the United States should switch to the metric system.
Research has shown that the metric system has gained widespread acceptance worldwide. Research using the metric learning technique has determined a highly successful method of learning that bridges the gap between Euclidean and hyperbolic geometry (Vinh Tran et al., 2019). The metric system is a universally adopted method of measurement for weights and measures that allows for precise calculations by anybody, anywhere. Each metric unit indicates its value and fits in with all the others.
The United States is making strides toward metrication because it will improve its industrial and commercial output, math and science education quality, and the ability to compete successfully in global markets. Because international trade is essential to the United States economy, the country’s manufacturing sector must embrace the international standard for measurement (Hughes & Orndorff, 2020). Back-of-the-envelope computations are greatly simplified by using the metric system. Whether working with a lab apparatus to create a solution, figuring out the square footage of a parking lot, or determining the correct dosage for a patient of a specific weight, calculations are required. Also, it shortens the time it takes to verify a computation that a computer has just vomited out. Because of these advantages, numerous sectors in the United States have chosen to adopt the metric system independently, including the scientific community, the medical community, the energy sector, and the automobile industry.
A good example is Ford Motor Company, which produced the first US-made production engine to fully employ metric technical standards and achieve interoperability with other parts. Because of this, the metric system was implemented to standardize and reduce the complexity of product requirements. In addition, line workers with intermediate skills only need the training to transition to metric working.
As a result, the metric system facilitates uniformity in communication between students and teachers across countries. Any materials used to create textbooks can be created using the metric system. Students in fields of study such as engineering, chemistry, medicine, and computer science can all benefit from a unified measurement system. Drive capacities, memory sizes, and processing speeds in computers are all specified in SI units. Students from the United States studying in countries that use the metric system will be exemplary with grocery shopping, estimating garment sizes, or navigating public transportation(Carvalho et al., 2019). The Celsius temperature measurement system has a more straightforward 0 to 100 scale than the Fahrenheit system used in the United States. Contrarily, the metric system was developed with the goals of simplicity and ease of use from the start. Calculations in the metric system are more superficial and quicker than those in the alternative system because of the decimal character of the metric system. Converting between different weights and measurements is simple. Because fractional notation is not used, mental computation is relatively straightforward. It has also made it easier to be precise, so it is effective now. It is as simple as multiplying or dividing by ten.
Metric also makes it easier to convert between different unit systems. On the other hand, customers stand to gain from the changes. This is because widespread use of the metric system in business should lead to more straightforward and uniform product packaging. It is more convenient to compare prices and save money on packaging and shipping if there is a smaller range of package sizes. They are ultimately benefiting consumers with cost savings. Metric measurements simplify calculations and make it simpler to make price and weight comparisons. Adopting the metric system has improved productivity in business and industry and simplified the teaching and learning measurement process. The same is true of American exports: they do very well in other countries(Brown, 2020). So, the economy and the people of the United States stand to benefit from the metric conversion.
To facilitate communication and cooperation with its allies, the United States military relies heavily on metric units of measurement, especially those outlined in NATO Standardization Agreements (STANAG). Klicks, a slang term for kilometers, have been used by ground armies to measure distances. Standardizes the essential characteristics of various small and medium caliber ammunition to ensure interchangeability on the battlefield (Pellegrino &Kirkman, 2011). Vehicles used by the military are often constructed using the metric system. Coverage of major athletic events, such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, provides a frequent opportunity for American sports fans to be exposed to metric units. As a preparation for the Olympic Games, the track and field Olympic Trials have always been run in metric distances; the National Championships followed suit in 1974.
Those who refuse to adopt the metric system or use non-metric units are at a competitive disadvantage in the international marketplace. Compared to other measurement systems, the metric system is the most straightforward. The metric system’s clarity prevents misunderstandings due to its inherent simplicity. Since it is the standard system used worldwide, there is no debate about it or its interpretation. There is a general feeling of likeness and consistency. It seeks to identify standards or opportunities for cooperation in the areas such as protection from kinetic rounds, indirect fire, and landmines; armored transport vehicles, Defensive Aide Suites, Vehicle Electronics, ammunition interchangeability, and vehicle testing procedures(Froh,2002).
Counter Arguments
Following Vinh Tran et al.’s (2019) argument, the metric system has gained worldwide acceptance. I cannot entirely agree with this because countries using metric units prefer different non—SI units. Brown (2022) argues that although SI units are preferred, non-SI units are standardized to fixed values, leading to the human scale’s complexity. For example, agricultural products in France are measured not in kilograms or grams but in metric quintals. However, the traditional American units are more stable than the metric units.
The claim that the metric system is accepted worldwide must be more specific because it avoids the existence of pounds and troy ounces used in the US. Furthermore, the quintal is currently illegal in France, whereby the quintal and the metric pound (500g) are illegal but are commonly used. Therefore, it is denoted that the metric system proposes to make a single measurement system that allows for local flexibility. The pro-metric rebuttal clearly defines that the metric system has not created a worldwide, uniform measuring system and points out that true metric countries still need to be created since all countries still use non-SI units.
Brown (2020) also argues that Metric makes converting between different unit systems easier. I cannot entirely agree with this argument because the conversion between units with similar dimensions is insignificant (Henshaw, 2020). Since the metric units are base ten, I counter Brown’s idea because the division of customary units is easier and does not require a decimalized system. For example, customary units with ratios of 12 and 16 have many proper factors compared to the metric 10. Therefore, measurements are expected to be integers and be needed to convert to other units. However, it is sometimes difficult to remember the ratios between measures.
Moreover, people can convert between pounds and ounces or yards and feet. Deductively, there is no relevance because metric units are base ten. Notably, the base-12 measuring system tends to be more potent than the base-10 system because of the many factors in base 12 than 10.
Furthermore, the argument that the metric system facilitates uniformity in communication needs to be more specific. The metric system is linked to confusion because it avoids duplication. For example, force and mass have a similar symbol, written as the pound, which can lead to confusion. However, confusion can only occur when there is misuse, which can be managed appropriately. Additionally, the standard units feature several overlapping units. For example, the American system of liquid measurement is base-2. Also, the measurement does not form an exact base-2 system that requires using the peck, gill, or quart. Most people must be familiar with these options as many countries use traditional units.
Moreover, the divisibility of the base-12 system is easier when divided by three compared to 10. Also, using the peck, gill, or quart allows for easy listing of awkward amounts in the metric system. The awkward amounts can be used as decimals or fractions to solve this problem and replaced with a metric equivalent. For example, a pint can be rounded to 0.5 or 0.6 liters. Notably, the decimal number system has made easy the process of converting different units by multiplying or dividing by powers of ten (Hornacek, 2023). Considering these arguments, the compulsory imposition of the metric system should be stopped. People should have the freedom to use the metric system of their choice.
Conclusion
Regardless of the pervasive fear connected with the concept of change, changing American culture will not always have negative implications. The metric system has been able to gain widespread acceptance across the world. The research that used the metric learning technique can help determine a highly successful method of learning for bridging the gap between hyperbolic and Euclidean geometry. The United States has been adequate in making strides towards metrication as it can be effectively improving industrial and commercial output. Global trade is crucial for the United States economy, and the country’s manufacturing sector must use global standards for the measurement.
I contend that the International System of Units (SI) is more user-friendly than the American Standard measuring system and that the United States would benefit from adopting SI. The metric system has been implemented for standardizing and reducing the complexity of product requirements. The metric system can help to propose a single measurement system that can help to facilitate local flexibility. The pro-metric rebuttal can help to define the fact that the metric system has not been able to create across the world. The metric system can help in facilitating the communication needs that can help to make it more specific. The metric system can be related to confusion as it can be of great use to avoid duplication. It is expected that measurements would be integers, and they have to be converted into various other units.
References
Brown, R. J. (2022). The unusual status of the hectare in the SI. Metrologic, 59(6), 062101.
Carvalho, D. V., Pereira, E. M., & Cardoso, J. S. (2019). Machine learning Interpretability: A survey on methods and metrics. Electronics, 8(8), 832. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8080832
Froh, R. (2002). To meet the challenges. NATO’s Nations and Partners for Peace, (2), 182–183.
Henshaw, J. (2020). V & W Destroyers: A Developmental History. Seaforth Publishing.
Hicks, M. B., Farrell, W., Auriemma, C., Lehmann, L., Wiesel, L., Nadeau, K., &Ferguson, P.(2019).Making a move towards modernized greener separations: introducing the analytical method greenness score (AMGS) calculator. Green chemistry, 21(7), 1816-1826.https://doi.org/10.1039/C8GC03875A
Hughes, R. M., & Orndorff, T. (2020). Applications of IBI concepts and metrics to waters outside the United States and Canada., 79-93. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003068013-6
Hornacek, M. (2023). Introduction to Number Theory. CRC Press.
Pellegrino, D., Kirkman, C. (2011). NATO Small Arms Ammunition Interchangeability via Direct Evidence Testing. http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2011smallarms/WednesdayInter12315Pellegrino.pdf.
Vinh Tran, L., Tay, Y., Zhang, S., Cong, G., & Li, X. (2020, January). Hypural: A boosting metric learning approach in hyperbolic space for recommender systems. In Proceedings of the 13th international conference on web search and data mining (pp. 609–617). https://doi.org/10.1145/3336191.3371850
