Paul wrote:

The metric system starts falling apart when you get into Newton's second law.
F = m x a The metric system had to invent a new unit of force called the Newton...
ironically. One Newton is = to 4.448221615260 pounds! One kilogram becomes 9.8
newtons while in the english system a pound is a pound. The concept of one G is
alien to the metric system. In the English system F = W x G

Thanks Paul, the above warms the hearts (and brains) of the unconverted.
13 years at JPL and I never acquired a feel for a Newton and I don't
think I ever met anyone who had. Given the above inconsistencies I'm not
certain that it's something the human brain can ever develop a real feel
for. Pascals, blah.

Fred O.

They are trying to teach physics in the U.S. schools today using the 
metric system. IMHO it is so alien to our everyday lives here in the 
U.S. it is no wonder they are not having much success. It must be different in
Europe as they have some excellent engineers over there. The Wright 
brothers on the other hand, being largely self educated, had an 
excellent understanding of physics. I am not seeing that in young 
people today. Perhaps they are not understanding me because they 
attempted to learn the metric system and gave up or perhaps passed 
the too easy exams and forgot everything they supposedly learned :) 
This electric water pump controversy is a classic example.

Paul Lamar
 
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