Common units

Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by Metryq, Mar 14, 2023.

  1. Metryq

    Metryq Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2013
    So... NASA has tracked an asteroid measuring "69 American alligators" in size. Is that major axis, or volume?

    The least they could do is use common units of measure, like saying it is somewhere between 80 to 188 Smoots wide.
     
    XCV330 likes this.
  2. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2014
    Location:
    Classic Space
    Eh, that's so passe. You really want units that stand out so that people don't confuse you for other article writers...


    Spoiler alert: the next line below the title reveals the answer as "diameter":
    [SIZE=5]The massive asteroid 2023 CM is estimated to be as much as 320 meters in diameter and is set to pass Earth. It won't hit, but if it did, it could devastate a continent.[/SIZE]
     
  3. Magistos

    Magistos Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2023
    Location:
    New Georgia
    They didn't even use a banana for scale?
     
    fireproof78 likes this.
  4. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2014
    Location:
    Classic Space


    Apologies, first thing that popped in to my mind. Though the banana question is appropriate.
     
  5. publiusr

    publiusr Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2010
    Location:
    publiusr
    Yes, we have no bananas today
     
    Magistos likes this.
  6. danellis

    danellis Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2010
    Location:
    UK
    Something about motherhood, perhaps (the song already has a truck)?

    dJE
     
  7. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Location:
    Asbo Zaprudder
    When I was a physics student, we used to amuse ourselves by coming up with other systems of units besides SI, and working out the conversion factors. I recall one set of units of mass, length and time we used consisted of African swallow, furlong and fortnight. A variation used the European swallow, chain and leap year.
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2023 at 5:09 PM
    XCV330 likes this.
  8. scotpens

    scotpens Vice Admiral Premium Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2009
    Location:
    City of the Fallen Angels
    For us Americans, that's 3.5 football fields.
     
  9. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2014
    Location:
    Classic Space
    What about coconuts?
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2023 at 1:17 AM
  10. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Location:
    Asbo Zaprudder
    They keep migrating south so they're hard to measure.