The Metric System vs. The Imperial System. Change?

litre (l)

Encyclopædia Britannica Article

Page 1 of 1



also spelled liter unit of volume in the metric system, equal to one cubic decimetre (0.001 cubic metre). From 1901 to 1964 the litre was defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water at 4 °C (39.2 °F) and standard atmospheric pressure; in 1964 the original, present value was reinstated. One litre is equivalent to approximately 1.0567 U.S. quart.

Liter: A metric measure of capacity that, by definition, is equal to the volume of a kilogram of water at 4 degrees centigrade and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury.

Why wasn't the specific gravity of the water mentioned?

SUBJECT : Specific gravity 7-12

The term specific gravity is used to describe the weight or density of a liquid compared to an equal volume of fresh water at 4°C (39° F). If the liquid you are comparing will float on this water it has a specific gravity of less than one (1). If it sinks into the fresh water the specific gravity is more than one. As you have already guessed fresh water at 4°C (39° F) has been assigned a value of one (1).

The use of the term "metric ton" is much handier than having to say "1,000 kilograms or 2,200 pounds and points to a solution to the debate over metrication (Working Waterfront, June and August, 1994.) Assume worldwide use of the metric system. Take a 30 cm long ruler and call it the "metric foot;" divide it into 12 "metric inches" each equal to 2.5 cm. Define the "metric pound" as one half of a kilogram. The "metric gallon" equal four liters. A pint will still be a pound the world 'round.

Under this "custometric" system conversions in linear measure would become simple functions of 2.5 or 0.4, depending on whether we were going from inch to meter or vice versa. We would still use terms like ounce, we could still talk meaningfully of going the extra mile. Mechanics and scientists would use metric measurements as they do now; builders would be on a metric standard but could still enjoy the convenience of foot measurements and fractional increment, which many of us find easy to use; household units would be on a metric standard but would still be broken down as cups of flour and pounds of butter. "Custometric" measurement preserves our nominal units while making conversions to the pure metric system simple, accurate and seldom necessary.

Also, and I hate to break this to you, a pint doesn't cost a pound anywhere