Why I will NEVER use the Metric System

Summary

The video script humorously explores the United States' resistance to adopting the metric system, contrasting it with the global standard. It delves into the history of measurement, from ancient units like the cubit to the French Revolution's introduction of the metric system. Despite attempts to推行metrication in the US, cultural inertia and practical challenges persist. The script also humorously touches on the confusion between different units within the US and UK systems, highlighting the complexity and occasional absurdity of non-metric measurements.

Takeaways

• 😅 The interviewee humorously guesses there are '3,000-something' feet in a mile, highlighting a common confusion about imperial measurements.
• 🌍 The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries that have not fully adopted the metric system, with the US and Myanmar being the primary focus in the script.
• 🏛️ Historically, the US has made attempts to adopt the metric system, but these efforts have been met with resistance and have not fully taken hold in everyday life.
• 👶 Johnny, the video creator, expresses his struggle to adapt to the metric system despite recognizing its rationality and his efforts to teach it to his children.
• 📏 The script humorously points out the arbitrary origins of imperial measurements, such as the foot, inch, yard, and mile, which are based on body parts and farming activities.
• 🔍 The metric system was developed during the French Enlightenment with the aim of creating a universal, precise, and scientific system of measurement.
• 🌐 The metric system is based on the meter, which was originally defined as one ten-millionth of the Earth's quadrant, and it simplifies calculations due to its decimal nature.
• 📉 Despite the metric system's advantages, cultural and political factors have contributed to its slow adoption in the US, including incidents like the loss of the prototype meter stick due to a pirate attack.
• 🚀 The script mentions a significant incident where NASA lost a satellite due to a mix-up between imperial and metric units, costing 125 million dollars.
• 📚 There's an acknowledgment that certain sectors in the US, such as industry, federal government, and pharmaceuticals, have quietly adopted the metric system.

Q & A

How many feet are there in a mile according to the interviewee?

The interviewee estimates there are '3,000-something' feet in a mile.

Why does Johnny decide he will never use the metric system?

Johnny decides he will never use the metric system after realizing the complexity of converting between metric and imperial units, especially when it comes to everyday measurements.

What are the three countries that do not use the metric system?

The three countries that do not use the metric system are the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar.

What historical event is mentioned that relates to the United States' adoption of measurement systems?

The historical event mentioned is the American Revolution, which influenced the US's decision to stick with the imperial system instead of adopting the metric system.

What was the role of the French Revolution in the development of the metric system?

The French Revolution led to a desire for change and standardization, which resulted in the creation of the metric system as a more rational and scientific method of measurement.

How were the initial measurements for the metric system determined?

The initial measurements for the metric system were determined by dividing one-fourth of the Earth's circumference into 10 million parts, with one part being called a 'meter'.

What error was made during the calculation of the meter during the creation of the metric system?

One of the French astronomers made an error in his calculations, making the final meter about 0.2 millimeters shorter than it should have been.

Why did the United States not initially receive the prototype of the kilogram?

The United States did not initially receive the prototype of the kilogram because the ship carrying it was hit by a storm and captured by British pirates, who then delivered it to the wrong Secretary of State.

In what ways has the United States informally adopted the metric system?

The United States has informally adopted the metric system in sectors such as industry, federal government, nutrition labeling, pharmaceuticals, and film.

What example is given of the consequences of using imperial units over metric in a space mission?

An example given is the loss of a NASA satellite that went off-course and burned up in Mars' atmosphere due to a misconversion between imperial and metric units, costing NASA 125 million dollars.