Re: Loss of Mars Climate Orbiter due to units of measurment conflicts

[rlove@antispam.neosoft.com (Robert B. Love )]

In <380F272A.988B7524@ftw.rsc.raytheon.com> Wes Groleau wrote:
> 
> > |While I am personally in favor of the SI, I must insist that the
> > |"fundamental constants" are rendered in whatever units the renderer
> > |chooses.  I was taught in high school that G = 32.2 ft / sec**2
> 
> 
> Yes, but I was rebutting a post that claimed the reason for using SI is 
> because "that's what the fundamental constants are rendered in."

Actually, you can't "choose" what units the fundamental constants
are in.  They are decided on by an international body and the method
of measurement, the units used, the accuracy, etc are all part of
the published value.  You wouldn't expect to have "Wes' Own Ada"
would you? What made Ada was decided upon by a large body after
much consultation.  Of course you can convert from SI to Imperial
but I'll stand by my original statement.  Fundamental constants
are published in SI units, not some other units of convenience.


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 Bob Love                                   
 rlove@neosoft.com                            
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