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Chapter 1: Problem 43

Describe in general terms how the SI and U.S. customary systems of units differ.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The main differences between the SI and U.S. customary systems of units include their origins, base units, conversion factors, and usage today. The SI system was developed in France and is based on seven fundamental units, while the U.S. customary system is based on the British Imperial System and uses different base units. The SI system has a consistent decimal system with easy conversions, while the U.S. customary system has varying conversion factors. The SI system is widely used in science and international commerce, while the U.S. customary system is predominantly used in the United States and some industries.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction

The SI (International System of Units) and the U.S. customary system are two different systems of measurement used in various parts of the world. Understanding their differences can help comprehend how different countries and fields of study take measurements and express quantities.
02

Origin of the Systems

The SI system, also known as the metric system, was developed in France and was officially adopted in 1960. The purpose of the SI system is to create a consistent and universal method of measurement worldwide, making it easier for scientists and individuals to communicate and compare measurements across nations. On the other hand, the U.S. customary system is based on the British Imperial System and has been used in the United States since the colonial times. It is mostly used in the United States and a few other countries that still utilize some of the traditional British units.
03

Base Units

In the SI system, there are seven base units used to represent different physical quantities: meters (length), kilograms (mass), seconds (time), ampere (electric current), kelvin (temperature), mole (amount of substance), and candela (luminous intensity). These units form the foundation of the SI system, and all other units can be derived from them. In contrast, the U.S. customary system has different base units for the same physical quantities: feet or inches (length), pounds or ounces (mass), seconds (time), Fahrenheit (temperature), and various other units for other quantities like volume and force. These units are not as systematically related to each other as the SI units.
04

Conversion Factors and Prefixes

The SI system uses a decimal system, meaning that it is based on the powers of 10. This makes the conversion between different units within the SI system relatively simple, as it just involves shifting the decimal point or multiplying/dividing by a power of 10. Additionally, SI units use prefixes to indicate larger or smaller quantities (e.g., kilo-, mega-, nano-). On the other hand, the U.S. customary system does not have a consistent conversion factor between units, which can make conversions within the system more complicated. For example, 1 foot contains 12 inches, 1 mile contains 5,280 feet, 1 pound has 16 ounces, and so on.
05

Usage Today

Although the SI system is now widely used and accepted in science, academia, and international commerce, the U.S. customary system continues to be used predominantly in the United States, mainly in everyday life and in some industries. In certain fields like aviation, both systems may be used, which highlights the importance of understanding the differences between the two systems of units.

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