Metric/Imperial Rulers

[ian16th]

Although our tea-dumping friends on far side of the Atlantic stayed with Imperial units they did muck about with the gallon with some strange conversion factor.

They didn't.

We changed after they rebelled.

To quote Wiki:
"This difference dates back to 1824, when the British Weights and Measures Act standardised various liquid measures throughout the British Empire, while the United States continued to use the earlier English measure."

[barkingmad]

Thanks Ian, I should have paid more attention in History lessons but found births/deaths/marriages of Tudor kings and queens etc etc to be a powerful sedative.

Eventually gave it up before 'O' levels and taught myself and passed Geometric & Engineering Drawing at both 'O' & 'A' level.

Alas that academic certificate not acceptable for entry to Hamble so it was Betty Windsor's Flying Club for me.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I have Geometric & Engineering Drawing at 'O' level too! My teacher had been a professional draughtsman before shifting into teaching - fine chap, very rigorous. I shall be using the knowledge today as I work out my new plumbing.
History was enlived at our all boys school by doing nothing but wars and revolutions. Wars, both in detail and what lead up to them, plus the agricultural and industrial revolutions, and the economic revolutions in the 17th century. We also did the Reformation, since it had affected the school, and the Peasants' revolt, since two old boys had been regional leaders thereof (one of whom led the sacking of the school during it). Nothing like a bit of local interest. We did not do a single B/D/M of any monarch, except insofar as it may have affected the causes of warses or revolutions. One was expected to be able to draw from memory all the phases of several battles (e.g. the Battle of Naseby), including unit commanders.

[ian16th]

Nothing like a bit of local interest.

It got a bit too much on Teesside, we had Jimmy Cook for history and geography!

[llondel]

Although our tea-dumping friends on far side of the Atlantic stayed with Imperial units they did muck about with the gallon with some strange conversion factor.

On both sides of the pond the gallon is 8 pints. However, the US pint is 16 fl oz (US) whereas in the UK a pint is 20fl oz.

The US definition of the fluid ounce is also not the same as the UK one, which does at least manage to match the defined volume to one ounce of water over its liquid range, whereas the US one does not.

I can recommend this site for all sorts of useless facts about measurements. http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/units/index.htm

[G-CPTN]

I believe that the Americans have a a saying "The pint is a pound the World around" - meaning 16 ounces - though it doesn't apply in the UK.

One US fluid pint of water weighs about a pound (16 ounces), resulting in the popular saying, "A pint's a pound, the world around."

[Pontius Navigator]

Or

A pint of pure water
Weighs a pound and a quarter

[ian16th]

The miniature 'Merican pint is for those that can't hold their drink.

[Hydromet]

Somewhere in a cardboard box I have a handbook which has all sorts of useful conversion factors for various units. I'm intrigued by some American units. For instance, how long is a miner's inch?

[Pontius Navigator]

A miner's inch represents the rate of water flow in a miner's sluice through an orifice one inch square, or one-inch in diameter, through a two-inch thick plank with a head of six inches. This single orifice was limited to low flows in the range of 1.5 cubic feet per minute (11.25 gallons per minute)

Which is rather odd as a square hole is 27% larger than a round one. I would have thought a round hole was easier to cut.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Sluice normally implies a lift-up gate, or similar, which are easier to make in rectangular/square form in a rectangular channel, especially if the channel doesn't need to be closed on top. Think canal lock gates.

[Magnus]

Pro-bowl at the Aloha stadium in Honolulu a few years ago. Beer was served in "supersized" tumblers. 20oz. Or a pint, as I know it.

[llondel]

OK, good old imperial measurements question:

How much soil is there in a hole 3'4" x 4'7" x 2'9" deep?

[John Hill]

If it is a hole in the ground one cubic metre would be close enough.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

It's a hole - there's no soil in it now ;)

[ian16th]

It's a hole - there's no soil in it now ;)

+1

[Magnus]

Smartarse.

[G-CPTN]

Read the question!