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Introducing the United (fps) System
Posted:
Apr 21, 2000 6:07 PM
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This post is to tentatively anounce a new United foot-pound-second system
of weights and measures; uniting the _three_ fundamental quantities of
science and mechanics:
This system unites LENGTH [distance in Space], FORCE, including weight
(force) [physical thrust, and the heaviness of Matter] with DURATION
[periods of continuously passing Time]. This should create a better
understanding of the physical phenomena involved in the mechanics of force
and the changes in motion that it causes, as well as that of weighing and
measuring variously heavy; variously sized commodities used in commercial,
and other trading of goods and merchandise:
From these three _fundamental_ quantities, and "Standard BASIC Units" of
measure thereof, all other quantities can be derived and measured: Standard
Basic Units are artificial replications of a portion of the quantity;
chosen as a basis for convenient comparison with the _actual quantities_,
which can then be
expressed in these units! It is desirable, but not nesessary to limit the
choice to as few basic units as will serve the specific purpose to which it
is used:
No units will be disallowed: The horseman's daughter can still take pride
in expressing the size of her
horse's size in hands; but this doesn't preclude doing so in feet, and/or
decimals thereof: Carpenters can still use inches as well as feet. Other
artisans have their own favorite units. Oilmen the barrel, and a traveler
or hotel keeper _might_ even use the fortnight.
In the U.S., the choice for conveniently sized _basic_ measures of _length_
is usually the foot and (decimal) fractions thereof, for common household
purposes, and the mile and decimal portions thereof is popular for travel
and astronomic distances. From these basic units of length all other length
units can be derived.
For everyday purposes, factory made and calibrated copies of the basic foot
(ruler) artifact that is used for determining lengths are quite common, and
can be purchased in just about any hardware store in and/or out of the U.S.
I keep a foot ruler, and a tape measure (for multiples of feet) handy at
all times. Science presently bases the mile on being a fraction of the
distance light travels in a second: The foot is 1/5280th of a mile. [A foot
might also be defined as the cube root of the volume of 1000 ounces of pure
water at its maximum density; at STP (standard temperature and pressure).]
Almost everywhere the choice for conveniently sized _basic_ measures of
time (passage) are commonly based on the length of the day, and the year:
Decimal portions of time are becomming increasingly popular; for digital
clocks and other purposes. From the length of the year all other practical
time units are derived: There are approximately 365 and a quarter days in a
year; but since days can't be divided into quarter days, a whole extra day
is added to the calendar every fourth year. For most ordinary purposes this
is accurate enough. Figuring on a day being 24 hours, an hour being 1/24 of
a day; a minute is 1/60 of an hour, and a second is 1/60 of a minute:
Seconds may be further divided decimally: The second and hour are
convenient basic units for expressing speed; in such as miles per hour, and
feet per second. Factory made calendars, and calibrated clocks and watches
do a pretty good job of keeping track of time passage.
The pound is, and has long been, a convenient unit for expressing the
magnitude of the physical thrusts that cause changes in velocity (speed
and/or direction), and the (unit) pressure [weight (force)], per unit area,
that is required to support, and/or prevent bodies from free falling and/or
gravitating toward common centers of gravity: i.e., the common center of
gravity for all bodies on Earth is for all practical purposes Earth's
center. Force, either centripetally directed weight (force) and/or lateral
force, can easily be determined with spring scales, and/or pendulum type
balances: Eggs are easily and quickly weighed on pendulum 'egg scales'! The
equal arm balance scale as is used in pharmacies, laboratories, and assay
offices is more suited for the_comparison_ of a quantity of material with a
"standard weight".
For calibrating weighing scales, 'standard weight' artifacts of a heavy and
durable material such as stone or brass have long been used by different
civilizations and countries: The latest material for this purpose is
platinum-iridium. These weights are used to empirically calibrate weighing
scales: Factory calibrated scales in pounds force, with instructions for
their use, are readily available in stores throughout the U.S., as well as
in some other countries.
This United (fps) System of weights and measures, with its factory
calibrated copies of standard units, should easily blend right into the
presently used British Gravitational System of weights and measures.
It seems pretty simple to me, but then; what do I know?
--
Donald G. Shead
Such a tangled web we weaved when first we practiced to perceive.
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