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[–] 89 points 1 year ago (7 children)

“In metric, one milliliter of water occupies one cubic centimeter, weighs one gram, and requires one calorie of energy to heat up by one degree centigrade—which is 1 percent of the difference between its freezing point and its boiling point. An amount of hydrogen weighing the same amount has exactly one mole of atoms in it. Whereas in the American system, the answer to ‘How much energy does it take to boil a room-temperature gallon of water?’ is ‘Go fuck yourself,’ because you can’t directly relate any of those quantities.” ― Josh Bazell, Wild Thing

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  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    It might be funny if it were true, but it's just a sad show of ignorance. It is exactly as possible in one as in the other for obvious reasons. It's just not as easy to memorize.

    To be specific:

    • energy required to heat to boiling point 1180 kJ
    • energy required to convert to vapor 8420 kJ
    • energy required to heat to boiling point and convert to vapor 9600 kJ
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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Nobody said impossible, just that you can't directly relate any of those quantities.

    Can't we just agree that metric is superior?

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