phiwong t1_j6bkye7 wrote
Although we've known a long time about electricity and magnetism, a broad based theory about them is a fairly recent discovery. (maybe 1800s). This was preceded by the metric system which was introduced in 1795 - so a lot of standards were already "established" before measures like volts and amps were defined.
Things like weights and distances, though, are very common measures and every civilization needed them even from ancient times thereby resulting in many different measures. By the time things like voltage and amperes came into broad use (outside of scientific circles), the SI system was already firmly established and there was no reason for alternative measures.
Note that the watt is a standard unit of power in the SI system. However we still use things like horsepower (1 HP = 746 W) and BTU/hr as non-SI unit measures of power. One used even today for engine power output and the other for cooling and/or heating systems. So not quite "standardized".
MemorianX t1_j6d5le6 wrote
I wonder how another old one like time has been standardised globaly or if there are any other pre si that are standard
NameUnavail t1_j6cggpi wrote
>Note that the watt is a standard unit of power in the SI system. However we still use things like horsepower (1 HP = 746 W) and BTU/hr as non-SI unit measures of power. One used even today for engine power output and the other for cooling and/or heating
The US just has a furious hatred for standardisation, don't they ?
Logizyme t1_j6desn1 wrote
Wait until you find out what the "B" in BTU stands for!
DisorderOfLeitbur t1_j6g2plq wrote
It gets worse. The American British Thermal Unit isn't the same as the Canadian British Thermal Unit.
Deadmist t1_j6coits wrote
That's not just a US thing.
Ask anyone in Europe how much power their car has and they will give you the horsepower number. Unless they are driving electric, maybe.
remarkablemayonaise t1_j6cla7f wrote
They have their own standards, just as many countries have their standards which aren't SI. Continental Europe is more likely to use cl not ml (UK) for capacity even if they're both metric and derived from SI.
While hectares may be used for modern land deeds there are dozens if not 100s of standards around the world for land area.
travelinmatt76 t1_j6deorl wrote
Nope, we're just like any other country
NameUnavail t1_j6djj9e wrote
Except for the fact that the US is literally one of two countries that haven't adopted metric.
But yeah, just like any other country
travelinmatt76 t1_j6ewxko wrote
We do use metric, we learn metric in school and metric is exclusively used in science fields and engineering. There are countries besides the U.S. that use both metric and imperial. The U.S. uses U.S. Customary instead of imperial, and we use metric.
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