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Sunday, August 30, 2009
Units for Measuring Length Posting for Points -PoP
Suppose there were no units for measuring length. Hypothesize how lengths might be described. Then discuss how measuring length would be different without inches. Finally, discuss why having a range of units for measuring length, such as inches and feet, to choose from is necessary. Hypothesize about the possibility of developing a new standard unit for measuring length. Plan the unit. Explain whether the unit would be shorter than 1 inch, between 1 inch and 1 foot, between 1 foot and 1 yard, between 1 yard and 1 mile, or longer than 1 mile. Express the unit in terms of inches, feet, yards, or miles. Debate the advantages of the new unit.
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If there were no units for measuring length, it would make cense for the lengths of objects to be described as about the same length as the objects that everyone would know the length of, such as the hight of a human, the length of a persons foot, or the distance from one place to another.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that measuring length would be that much different without inches as long as we had other units that are similar such as centimeters and meters.
It is important to have different units to choose from because it makes things much easier to understand. For instance, if i told you that python hall was about 150,000 millimeters long, and you had never been there before, you would most likely have no idea about how long it really is.
If I was to create a new unit, it would be Football fields, because the length of a football field is standard everywhere, and everyone knows how long it is. (100 yards)
It is hard to make a standard unit because it wont work for everything. You can't measure the length of an ant in football fields, and it would be hard to measure the circumference of the world in football fields. But a football field is between both of those extremes and that is why I chose it.
I agree with Brian on what he said about there being no units of length. I think that we would revert to using something familiar such as "little tree" or "Madison's hair." As for distance I think it might be portrayed in a sense of time such as "Mary's house is 2 days walk from here" and we would just estimate it that way.
ReplyDeleteI think if we didn't have inches we would use the metric system of meters and such. We are one of I think 3 countries that really uses the British system, so I think we would just convert to metric units.
It's important to have different units to express length because it's much easier to say "1 inch" rather than "1/12 of a foot" It's also easier when it comes to longer distances such as miles, rather than using the unit of feet.
I think my unit of choice would be an avereage car length. I know it's not exact, but it's used in driving exercises and on the roads like "stay one car length behind him" and when measuring it's very portable. :) It's between a yard and a mile, which makes it better for measuring bigger objects, but it's not as extreme as a football field.
I guess the advantages would be that it's portable (the car is anyway) and that it's easy to eye. The disadvantage is, you would have to use an average car length, because there is no specific car length that all cars have.
If there were no units for measuring length, I think we might use certain objects as a measuring tool or measurement tool. Like if every table was made the same we would say that is a table long or something like that.
ReplyDeleteMeasuring length would be a little bit different without inches but at the same time we would still have meters and centimeters, etc.
It is necessary to have multiple units to choose from because it makes measuring length easier to a certain degree. For example if I was to measure a basketball court I would not use inches or centimeters. I would use yards or feet because it is easier. It may be a more precise measurement if I used a smaller unit of measurement but like I said its easier to use a larger unit of measure for a larger object.
I would have to choose a spaceship. Of course we would need one model that stood for the actual length of the new measuring unit.
The measurement itself would probably be between 1 yard and 1 mile. As far as expressing the new unit in terms, of the ones listed above, I would have to say that its is about 184 ft.
This new unit would allow us to measure length in space. Also, because of its size we could measure lengths we have never measured before. Since you can use only a portion of it to measure certain things we could use one unit of measurement to measure so much, rather it is something big or small.
If there were no units for measuring length, I would assume people would try to standarize it first and then use that standarized length to make other measurements that r more feasible. For e.g. Whenever there was a flood (you wouldn't differentiate who's land was what) from the Nile, the Egytpians measured how much land was a person's by using ropes that were the same size. I am quite sure our modern measuring system has branched off from the Egyptians.
ReplyDeleteI don't see too big of a problem with getting rid of inches, except for the fact that Americans wouldn't like it because they might have to use a smaller units which might be not part of the British system. Kind of the whole deal with Fahrenhiet and Celcius.
It's necessary to have different units such as inches and feet cuz it gives u the ability to measure more easily and efficently long lengths. Also, you can be more exact about your length by using some units than others.
If I was to create a new unit it would be called McLaren. It would the most bedazzling type of unit because it is based upon the dimensions of the car, McLaren F1. The dimensions r: wheelbase 107.0 in/2718mm, length 168.8 in/4288mm, height 44.9 in/1140mm, width 71.7 in/1821mm. The great thing about the McLaren is that it has different dimensions, which r standard anyways, so you can compare and modify to one's measurement needs. Also, a positive side to using the McLaren is that one can make cars similar to the beauty and aerodynamics of the McLaren. Although the McLaren F1 is a jaw-dropping car, it would make a better car for one to have rather than use as a measurement. The flaw is that even though there r many units used on the McLaren, you can't use it to measure smaller things or efficently and easily measure large things. I still like the idea of everyone getting a McLaren to measure things though...
If there were no units for measuring length, that would mean that there must not have been a need to measure things and therefore a basic system of measuring such as “arms length a part” or the length of an actual foot would never have been developed. Because there must have never been a need to develop such a system, lengths would never be described.
ReplyDeleteIf inches did not exist, then people would use millimeters, centimeters, meters, kilometers. In fact, I do believe a system that doesn’t use inches already exists, called the metric system.
Having a range of units for measuring length is helpful for easily, and accurately measuring different kinds of lengths. For example, if one only had millimeters to measure lengths, it would be very difficult to measure the distance from a person’s house to their school.
If I were to develop a new standard unit for measuring length, it would be called an ‘Emma.’ The unit would be between 1 foot and 1 yard, about my shoulder width apart – approximately 41 cm. This would be helpful to use if you wanted to use a standard unit to place people or objects apart form each other when creating a formation. I just so happened to use this standard unit of measurement in a dance I was choreographing for the Student Run production, The Sound of Music. In the song, “So Long, Farewell,” I placed the children in a left to right line, with an ‘emma’ in between each child.
If there wasn't a unit for length it would still be discribed as how long something is.And if there wasn't in. but there was still feet you would end up having to say things like a nineth of a foot,and that would be would plain annoying! If I had to develope a unit of measurement besides the in. I think a good unit could be a paperclip size. The standred paperclip size is about an in and a forth (a little over three cm). So roughly there would be 10 and a half paperclips in a foot. I think this new paperclip measurement could be nice because it is bigger than a in. and nothing is ever smaller than an in. So the paperclip would be pracical in replacing the in.
ReplyDeleteIf there were no units for measuring lenth, people would be forced to use what they had around them. One might use their hand as a measurment (he was 21 hands tall) or other convenient parts such as fingers for smaller measurments, and forearms for larger measurements. The idea of using body parts for units of measurement seems very elementary and non-sophisticated, though keep in mind, this is all people had to measure with at one point. What did people do before "inches" were "inches"? When did a "foot" become a "foot"?
ReplyDeleteAlthough the idea of measuring with hands and feet would make exact measurments and conversions very difficult, people would always find themself with something to measure with, unless they were missing a few fingers!
The measuring system we use today has convenient ways to measure things of all lenths: centimeters for very small objects, inches for small things, feet for larger measurments, yards for very big objects, and finally, miles for long distances. All of these units of measurement work together to create an easy way to identify and measure lenth. What were to happen if inches were taken away? This would create a problem for measuring smaller objects, as one would have to resort to fractions of a foot or large amounts of centimeters in order to figure out how long an object is.
If I were to develop a new unit of measurement, I would make between one yard and one mile. Sometimes when someone is trying to explain a distance, a mile may be too much and a yard too little. My unit would be about 50 yards long.
If we had yet to make a unit for measuring then it would be diffcukt to order things or know how things weighed. Everyday occurences, such as driving would appear nearly impossible, because no one would kno the correct speed at which they should travel. Without very important measurements such as speed or tbs, (when concering medicine) mankind would slowly but surely kill itself.
ReplyDeleteIf we hadn't begun to use inches yet buying shoes would become a very tedious task because inches are needed to make feet. Buildings would be unfit to live in because inches are used to make buildings that are safe.
Obviously units of measurements are important, and that's why we use them very frequently, if not daily. That's because they not only simplify life but also help to keep us safe.
Honestly, I think the world would be a hot mess with out units of any kind. Driving would be extremely unsafe and lives threaten. Making clothes and shoes and other necessities would be uneven and less benefiting to the people. Buildings, houses, cars and schools would be either too small or too large; the rooms would be too short or too tall, or too narrow or too wide. Distances from an item or point would be confusing on different people’s ideas and thoughts of units; no one would have the same measurement system. Geometry homework would all be right because there is right or wrong answer is no one is on the same scale.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make my own measurement unit, it would be called the "Mack daddy". It would be in-between inches and feet. Therefore, something "6 inches" long would be 1 Mack daddy long. In addition, "36 inches" would be 6 Mack daddies long! I feel there are so many things that are in-between 1 inch and 1 foot and are in need of its own name.
With no founded units for length, I assume people would use the same methods they did back when measurements were a new idea. Such as "My cow is the size of four sheep." This could be used in other ways, but the general idea is that they compare objects to objects as opposed to using theoretical units.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have several forms of units because if everything was done in only one form, things would be far too complicated. You would constantly be working with huge, huge numbers if you had to measure five hundred acres in inches, or you would be using too many fractions if you were required to measure a milk carton in kilometers.
If I were to make a new unit, I would call it the unometer. It would be worth a half of an inch exactly, so instead of using 2.54 centimeters to describe an inch, you could use only 2 unometers.
If it werent units of measurements we wouldnt have architectual wonders such as the Great Pyramids or, or the Parthenon.
ReplyDeleteIf we didn't have units of measurments with a variety of small and large incriments to measure with we would have a problems with getting accurate measurements. This would most certainly effect the way we create almost anything. All the way from baking cakes to building a condominium complex. For example if we could only use meters it would be almost impossible to measure something as small as a pencil but with the smaller units this simple task is possible.
If i had to create a unit of measurments I would make the largest unit about the size of a meter and then the next unit would be half the size of the meter, then the next one will be half the size of the previous one and so on and so on. This will make easier for the common uneducated person to measure anything though it would be very inconvienient for measure great distances of length.
If there were no units for measuring length, I imagine we would use whatever object is available and made sense. Most likely one that is a straight line, so that it would be easier to measure. However, when you were a kid, didn't you at one point say things like 'wow, that building is the size of 10 cars!' or something like it?
ReplyDeleteIt may not be quite as percise, or we would have a different unit of measurement.
It is nessecary to have units to chose from because without that available everyone all over the world might have different units. Then, you wouldn't be able to say that it's so and so inches long, and you might not really KNOW the measurement.
If I had to create a new unit, I believe I would create one that would be 20 miles long. That way, people would have an easier unit to use if they were measuring something extremely long, such as the length of a piece of property, or the distance from one country to another.
If there were no units to measure length, it would be hard to know the exact length of an object. But, we wouldnt know that our measurements weren't correct because we wouldnt know the different units of measurements to use to get closer to the exact measurement. I guess we would be forced to use our environment such as the hoop and cord we measured with during class.
ReplyDeleteWithout inches,it would be more difficult to measure things but its not like we don't hav other units to choose from. It would affect the way our conversion factoring goes and make it more difficult.
It is necessary to have a variety of units of measurement because it helps bring your measurement closer to the exact measurement. But then again, you could use your environment to help you have an idea of the actual lenght of an object.
If i were to make a new unit, I would name it "fields", like after football fields. I always wondered how many football fields could make a mile. Also, I always wondered if a track was layed straight out, how many "tracks" would make a mile. Im sure I could figure both of these out through conversion factors being that they are measured by yards and feet.
The advantages of having these "units" would be for memory aiding reasons. They would be more interesting and memorable because it's taking sports that people play in there daily lifes, and using that in the classroom
if there were no units for measurement, then lenght would be measure with peoples hands and arms, or something like that.
ReplyDeletewithout inches, it might be easier because that would mean that people were using the metric system like the rest of the world.
having a range of units is helpful because some thing are much bigger or smaller than others, and thus need different units for measurement in order for it to be more convinient.
if i were to make a measuring unit, it would be something like 'arms' for the lenght of somebodys forearm. it would be cool to see how similar it was to a foot.
there wouldnt be many advantages to it because there are many more convinient methods of measuing.
If there were no units it would be a lot harder to describe length. It would also be a lot harder to have precise measurements.
ReplyDeleteIf we didn’t have inches it wouldn’t be much different it might be a little harder to have exact measurements. But you could split a foot into smaller parts and use measurements such as one hundredth of a foot. It is important to have a group of smaller and larger measurements because different measurements are used at different times to show different lengths.
If I made a unit it would be very similar to the CM because I think it is important to have a small unit so that you can have a very precise measurement.
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ReplyDeleteMy unit would probably be, well called a foot, or an arm. As these are things that everyone has and we can be like meah, close enough.
ReplyDeleteMy unit would probably be between a foot and a yard. However if I was creating an entirely new measurement system I would smart very small, for instance mm, and then work up to slightly larger, cm, and then slightly larger, inches, and larger and larger. But they would all be divisible by ten or something you wouldn't have that nasty business of converting cm to inches if you know what I mean. So yeah, I think it would be interesting. My standard unit, the one that people use for eachothers height would be between a yard and a foot. This could be a fun in class project one day if we could schedule it in...
Like that Paideia campus picture scavenger hunt thing.
It would be most likely that different parts of the human body would be used for a system of measurement. A disadvantage to this idea is that not everyone is the same size and shape, but it is the most primitive idea of measurement.
ReplyDeleteThis might be crossing the line into the territory of "real" measuring tools, but branches of trees that could be regulated by visual and physical comparison could be a possible rough tool. They could have categories; smaller sticks for smaller objects (maybe in increments of inches, probably around the size of one inch), medium-sized sticks for slightly bigger objects (in increments of 6 inches), and then larger branches for huge things, like houses or something (four feet or so).
The "branch system" has many disadvantages. It would be near impossible to regulate the entire world with only three lengths of branches; it may be too hard to do in just a city.
We would probably use more natural things to measure things like a rope or your arms and feet.
ReplyDeletemy rope would be between yard and a mile and my arms would be between 1 foot and a yard. Stuff like that.
it would def. be more difficult to be exact it would change a lot of things math wise like how you build buildings and stuff like that.
If there were no units you could not tell lengths to any certainty you would have to be like its kinda big or really big or medium sized with absolutely no units measurement would not work. well without inches we could first go to the standard metric system which would be much easier worldwide to have a generic measuring system. if not that then typical items would have to be used but you would have to use things that were roughly consistent human parts are not consistent enough to be accurate. you could use something like a 3 year old oak tree because typically a 3 year old oak tree will be fairly consistent in size to each other. As a unit of 3 year old oak tree you could use it the same way the metric system uses a meter saying 1 oak or 100 oaks or a one hundredth of an oak and so on.
ReplyDelete