Which country was the first to employ the metric system?
Correct answer: France
DSDA
Here in Canada we have a foot in both camps. We measure distance on the highway in kilometers (or "klicks" if ya wanna sound like a Canuck) but I will tell you my height in feet and inches. I buy my sugar and flour in kilograms, but will tell you my weight in pounds. The temperature outside is in Celsius, but I set my oven to bake in degrees Fahrenheit.
brooksy92491
sunsetdb7, we are unique, mate. We still have our cars clocked in miles, we still inflate our tyres in psi, and yes, we still buy pints.
Heartland Old Guy
Good question, and another good question from nimblemoon. I think that the US hasn't because we are too used to the other systems we have and just really do not want to change. Even though it is being thrust upon us, examples: soda by the liter, and in track and field using meters. But everything we have is done in ounces, pounds, and tons, and in feet yards and miles. It is on our signs and we are entrenched. Do not want to change!
luckycatfay
Diver Dan, been metric in UK for years but I still work in feet and inches, miles, pounds and ounces etc.
sunsetdb7
nimblemoon, Wish it hadn't here in the UK. Mind you we can still order a pint in a pub, that's the main thing!
MaffysDad
All great using both metric and imperial until ya ground the hubble mirror wrong because ya didn't do the conversions right... Very expensive mistake!
Willow
Heartland Old Guy, I felt that way when Canada was changing over. It was harder for some. Now I love it and no longer do the conversion unless it is Imperial to celsius.
Valen
metric system is the easiest, because it's reference is nature: water freezes at 0 degrees, boils at 100. 1 kilogram is what 1 liter of water weights. And for distances, everything is multiple of 10: 100 centimeters are one meter, 1000 meters make 1 kilometer. It can't be easier than that!
nc
Heartland Old Guy, people in the US struggle to change meters to yards, feet, and inches and so on. But if we just used the metric system and dropped the standard, there would be no need to change back and forth and we’d get used to it quickly. It’s really easier than our system.
nimblemoon
Does anyone know why it's never been adopted here in the USA?
arohanui
no mention of Napoleon, whose idea it was
arohanui
Heartland Old Guy, of course you don't. Mind you, you do like to change spellings. we can them litres and metres.
Phoenix
The way I see things as a Canadian is if French and English can live in harmony on the same label, then it's only fitting that metric and Imperial do the same thing. After all, we are an inclusive nation! Are we not?
GraceSpace
DSDA, wowsers how confusing! having said that Oz uses Metric Offically for everything but think the Building Industry still use Imperial ? 😉
Blitzen
Heartland Old Guy, Same with how we use AM & PM for time, write calendar dates as month, day, year and refuse to accept dollar coins or retire the cent ('penny'). 'Murica!
payal
DSDA, yes correct..almost similar in India...although weight is almost always in kilograms and grams
Sweargen
The first practical realisation of the metric system came in 1799, during the French Revolution, after the existing system of measures had become impractical for trade, and was replaced by a decimal system based on the kilogram and the metre
Melode
are there still pubs in the uk zone? I heard something about them becoming obsolete. I don't know where I read it but hope it isn't true.my parents went to Britain years ago and loved it.
sillybee
the first metric measurement was made in Ecuador by members of the French expedition sent to measure by triangulation the circumference of the earth. they actually marked out the first kilometer with pyramid obelisks at Oyambaro (since destroyed by superstitious locals).
Teresa Tribble Silvious
Player #27756566, not true. there is one country in Africa that hasn't. I think it's name is Liberia.
Teresa Tribble Silvious
nimblemoon, in the 70s during Carter's administration there was too much push back so it was not enforced.
Player #15881782
only highway in USA that has a section of it posted in kilometers is near Tucson az
MaryAnne Wilson
Heartland Old Guy, Only 3 countries in the world have not converted to the metric system. It is not being thrust upon you. It is time to change.
Player #2512936
SOOTI, Not with pounds?
Player #25874027
You know it’s France because two important units are the Kilogram (kg) and the Kilometre (km).
And what letter don’t the French use?
K!
Look in a French dictionary .
(They don’t use W either- the World Wide Web must drive them crazy)
Neefa
The metric system is still the best and definitely the easiest.
The US should adopt it so we'll stop confusing ourselves!!
culpeper
I like pints
SOOTI
There was a film on the telly a few years ago about a plane which was wrongly filled with litres of fuel instead of gallons.
Player #14930287
Diver Dan, political stubbornness? we are free to learn the metric system. It's use in medicine daily. You are free to go metric any time you wish.
( Snail Darter)
luckycatfay, Nothing wrong with being flexible to use either measurement.....
Ari Kanarie
sunsetdb7, Fools resisting progress. Arrogance that passes for uniqueness lol
Player #8258475
sunsetdb7, I still ask for a quarter of cold meat at the deli counter with no problems, road signs telling distance to towns are still in miles. Theres a few other things too that I cant mind. We seem to use a weird mix of the two.
Birdiemom
DSDA, oh, my. talk about confusing!
Player BARTEMAEUS 10
wizard32125, You are very arrogant, aren't you.
MadMarcus1812
they didn't mention the UK which was 1970 I believe, we were late to the table 🙄