Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Cat and Fiddle Road

2009-12-21T13:49:27Z

Mixsynth: Swapped feet/metres as per Times style guide (see WP:UNTS) and provided source for figure

[[Image:Cat and fiddle road.jpg|right|thumb|View of a junction on the A537 near the cat and Fiddle Inn. The [[Macclesfield Forest]] can be seen on the horizon.]]
The '''Cat And Fiddle''' is a road in the [[United Kingdom]] running between [[Buxton]], [[Derbyshire]] and [[Macclesfield]], [[Cheshire]], named after a [[Cat and Fiddle Inn|public house]] at its summit. Formed by parts of the [[A537 road|A537]], [[A54 road|A54]] and [[A53 road|A53]] it is famous for its scenic views across the [[Peak District National Park]] and the [[Cheshire Plain]] and for its many bends. It is extremely popular with motorcyclists, and is regularly classed as one of the most dangerous roads in the [[UK]].

== Route ==
The road can be considered to start in Buxton at the junction of the A53 and [[A5004 road|A5004]] Long Hill road just north of the [[Buxton Opera House]]. It follows the A53 through the western outskirts of Buxton until a right turn onto the A54 at Ladmanlow. It then climbs out of Buxton in a series of sharp bends onto the flat [[moorland]] of Goyt’s Moss, where it runs along the A537 in a fairly straight line until reaching the [[Cat and Fiddle Inn]] at an altitude of {{convert|515|m|ft}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peakdistrict-nationalpark.info/studyarea/factsheets/20.html|title=Peak District National Park: Factsheet 20|accessdate=2009-12-21}}</ref>. From the Cat And Fiddle Inn it descends to Macclesfield via a continuous series of sharp, and often blind, bends.

== Usage ==

It is one of the only two roads into Macclesfield from the east, and as such carries long distance as well as local traffic, including heavy goods vehicles. It is also carries tourist traffic into the Peak District National Park including bicycles and walkers. It also forms part of the well-known ‘Cat And Fiddle – [[A5004 road|Long Hill]] – [[B5470 road|Highwayman]]’ triangle, which is particularly attractive to motorcyclists because of the frequency and severity of the bends. Given this mixture of usage, the number and sharpness of the bends and the fact that it is not uncommon to encounter straying livestock on the road, it is necessary to employ a great deal of caution. Bad winter weather can additionally make the road very hazardous.

== Road safety initiatives ==
[[Image:CatAndFiddleRoad.JPG|thumb|right|Motorcyclist warning sign, Cat and Fiddle Road.]]
As a result of the high number of injuries and fatalities (33 major crashes from 1999 to 2001)<ref>[http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/w/95/95017_killer_road.html Macclesfield Express - Killer Road]</ref> the speed limit on the section between Macclesfield and the Cat and Fiddle Inn has been reduced to {{convert|50|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} from the national {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} limit. The road is regularly patrolled by unmarked police cars and motorcycles and a [[mobile speed camera|mobile speed camera van]] is used most weekends during the summer. A police aircraft is often used in conjunction with these to enforce the speed limit.

In June 2008 the road was yet again named as the most dangerous road in Britain by the Road Safety Foundation. This single-carriageway route was the location for 21 fatal and serious crashes, and was rated in the EuroRAP report as Black, the highest risk rating. This is in spite of a number of countermeasures installed by the road authority, including motorcycle-friendly barriers. The Foundation attributes this high number of accidents to road-user behaviour; indeed, when motorcycle-related collisions are removed from the results the road becomes one of the safest in the country.<ref>[http://www.eurorap.org/gb2008 EuroRAP GB Tracking 2008 Results Revealed]</ref>

Cheshire County Council also point the finger at motorcyclists' behaviour: ''"The fact is that it’s an attractive road to motorcyclists – they see it as a challenge to ride with its hairpin bends, limited views, downhill descent and uphill ascent.

''"The thing that angers us most is not the fact that it’s dangerous, but that there are a group of people on that road who knowingly push the boundaries.

''"We have tried to get the message across, that it is the emergency services that have to pick these people up off the road and have the duty of telling their families that they have killed themselves."''<ref>[http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/s/1056393_finger_points_at_the_bikers Finger points at the bikers]</ref>

Having already spent £500,000 on a number of safety measures (including reducing the speed limit, installing high-friction surfacing, barriers and signs, widening the carriageway, and using mobile speed cameras <ref>http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1098847_shock_safety_campaign</ref>, in January 2009 it was revealed that Cheshire Council, on behalf of Cheshire safer roads partnership and Derbyshire partnership for road safety, wants to spend a further £1.2m on installing average-speed cameras along this road.<ref>http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1092383_cat_and_fiddle_camera_plea</ref>

== See also ==
[[Cat and Fiddle Inn]]

== References ==

<references/>

== External links ==
*[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Davenport+St&daddr=A53%2FSt+John's+Rd&geocode=FUysLAMdtqHf_w%3BFRGqLAMdvb_i_w&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=53.242927,-1.943722&sspn=0.056499,0.135098&ie=UTF8&z=12 Map showing the Cat and Fiddle Road]
*[http://www.derekmobbs.com/CatAndFiddle/intro.asp A photo tour of the Cat & Fiddle ]
*{{mmukscaled|SK001719|10|Map sources for Cat and Fiddle}}
*[http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcyclegps.php?n=A537-Buxton-Macclesfield-The-Cat-Fiddle&code=8e81 On Bike Film of Cat And Fiddle and more details]
*[http://www.roadsafetyfoundation.com/ Road Safety Foundation]
*[http://www.cat-cam.co.uk/ Webcam in the Cat & Fiddle Inn, looking east towards Buxton]

{{coord|53.24412|N|1.99996|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SK001719)|display=title}}

[[Category:Roads in England]]
[[Category:Transport in Derbyshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Cheshire]]

A68 road

2009-12-21T12:22:40Z

Mixsynth: Added exact mi/km distance

{{Unreferenced|date=September 2009}}
{{UK road routebox
| road= A68
| length-mi=
| length-km=
| direction= North - South
| start= [[Darlington]]
| destinations= [[Bishop Auckland]] [[Consett]] [[Corbridge]] [[Jedburgh]]
| end= [[Dalkeith]]
| construction-date=
| completion-date=
| junctions= {{ukmotorwayAsmall|1}} {{ukroadsmall-svg|7}} {{ukroadsmall|720}} {{ukroadsmall|696}} {{ukroadsmall|69}}
| euroroute = {{European route number sign|15}}
|}}


The '''A68''' is a major road in the [[United Kingdom]], running from [[Darlington]] in [[England]] to [[Edinburgh]] in [[Scotland]].

From Darlington, the road runs north, bypassing [[Bishop Auckland]], and running through [[West Auckland]], [[Toft Hill, County Durham|Toft Hill]] and [[Tow Law]], past [[Consett]] and [[Corbridge]]. The road used to run through the centre of Corbridge but now runs on a new single carriageway alignment to the East of the town, crossing the [[River Tyne]] over [[Styford Bridge]]. To bring the road back to the previous route of the A68 it now [[overlap (road)|overlaps]] the [[A69 road|A69]] for {{convert|2.9|mi}}, before turning off north again.

The A68 reaches the Scottish border at [[Carter Bar]], which contains a junction that leads to the A6088, leading to Hawick. The road then runs through the small Border town of [[Jedburgh]], [[St Boswells]], [[Earlston]], [[Lauder]] and then going up by Soutra Hill and into the town of [[Dalkeith]] where the [[B6373 road|B6373]] leaves and rejoins it in the town.

Since September 2008, the A68 now runs from {{convert|1.8|mi}} north east of Dalkeith at Fordel Mains and joins the [[Edinburgh City Bypass|A720]] close to its eastern terminus on the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] at Old Craighall Junction. The bypass has removed large volumes of traffic from the centre of the town. This part of the road has now taken the A68 designation and the old route through Dalkeith has been renumbered and downgraded to non-primary status.

The A68 used to run all the way into [[Edinburgh]], but that section within Edinburgh became part of the [[A7 road (Great Britain)|A7]] several years ago.

It is the only major road to cross the England/Scotland border for a long distance either way (the next crossing being the [[A697 road]] near [[Coldstream]]/[[Cornhill-on-Tweed]] in the east, and the [[A7 road (Great Britain)|A7]] near [[Canonbie]].

Apart from the [[A69 road|A69]] [[concurrency (road)|concurrency]] the road is entirely single carriageway apart from a short section before it crosses the [[A1(M)]] into [[Darlington]].

The A68 is part of [[Euroroute]] [[European route E15|E15]] ([[Inverness]]-[[Algeciras]]) between its northern terminus on the A720, and its junction with the [[A696]] just on the English side of the border. The E15 continues northwards and southwards on the A720 and A696 respectively.

==See also==
*[[British road numbering scheme]]
*[[Dere Street]]

==External links==
*[http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/f99/68.shtml Sabre-Roads.org: A68: Edinburgh-Darlington]

{{GB A road zone 6}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:6-0068}}
[[Category:Roads in England]]
[[Category:Roads in Scotland]]
[[Category:Transport in County Durham]]
[[Category:Transport in Northumberland]]
[[Category:Transport in the Scottish Borders]]
[[Category:Transport in Midlothian]]
[[Category:Transport in Edinburgh]]

{{UK-road-stub}}

A431 road

2009-12-21T02:20:51Z

Mixsynth: Added km equivalents

{{UK road routebox|
| road= A431
| length-mi=
| length-km=
| direction=
| start= [[Bristol]]
| destinations=
|end= [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]
| construction-date=
| completion-date=
| junctions= {{ukroadsmall-svg|4}} {{ukroadsmall|4175}} {{ukroadsmall|4174}} {{ukroadsmall|420}}
}}

[[Image:The A431 Summerhill Road.jpg|thumb|left|The A431 road at Summerhill Road, [[St George, Bristol|St George, Bristol.]]]]

The '''A431''' is an [[A roads in Great Britain|A road]] running from [[Bristol]] to [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] in [[England]]. It runs parallel to, and about {{convert|3|mi}} to the north of, the [[A4 road (England)|A4]], the principal route between Bristol and Bath on the south side of the [[River Avon, Bristol|River Avon]].

The A431 begins at a junction with the [[A420 road|A420]] at [[St George, Bristol|St George]], about a mile (1.6 km) east of central Bristol. From there it runs through [[Hanham]], [[Longwell Green]], [[Bitton]] and [[Kelston]] to Bath.

== External links ==
*[http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/r10/notes.php?number=A431 SABRE website: description of route]

==See also==
* [[British road numbering scheme]]

{{GB A road zone 4}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:4-0431}}
[[Category:Roads in England]]
[[Category:Roads in Bristol]]
[[Category:Transport in Somerset]]

{{UK-road-stub}}

Benutzer:Elrond/Britisches Einheitensystem

2009-11-23T21:18:06Z

Mixsynth: /* Other countries */

: ''This article is about the post-1824 measures used in the [[British Empire]] and countries in the British [[sphere of influence]]. For information about the units used in England before 1824, see [[English units]]. For information about the units used in the US, see [[United States customary units]]. For information about the system of weight, see [[Avoirdupois]].''

'''Imperial units''' or the '''imperial system''' is a [[system of units]], first defined in the British [[Weights and Measures Act]] of 1824, later refined (until 1959) and reduced. The system came into official use across the [[British Empire]]. By the late 20th century all nations of the former empire had [[metrication|officially adopted]] the [[metric system]] as their main system of measurement.

[[Image:Weights and Measures office.jpg|thumb|250px|The former Weights and Measures office in [[Seven Sisters, London]].]]

== Relation to other systems ==
The imperial system is one of many systems of [[English units|English]] or foot-pound-second units, so named because of the base units of length, mass and time. Although most of the units are defined in more than one system, some subsidiary units were used to a much greater extent, or for different purposes, in one area rather than the other. The distinctions between these systems are often not drawn precisely.

One such system is the [[United States customary units|US customary system]], which is historically derived from units which were in use in England at the time of settlement. Because the United States was already independent at the time, these units were unaffected by the introduction of the imperial system. Units of length and area are mostly shared between the imperial and US systems, albeit being partially and temporally defined differently. Capacity measures differ the most due to the introduction of the imperial [[gallon]] and the unification of wet and dry measures. The [[avoirdupois]] system applies only to weights; it has a ''long'' designation and a ''short'' designation for the hundredweight and ton.

Another distinction to be noted is that between these systems and older British/English units/systems or newer additions. The term ''imperial'' should not be applied to English units that were outlawed in [[Weights and Measures Act]] of 1824 or earlier, or which had fallen out of use by that time, nor to post-imperial inventions such as the [[slug (mass)|slug]] or [[poundal]].

{{See also|Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems}}

==Units==
=== Length ===
[[Image:ImperialStandardsOfLength1876TrafalgarSquare Copyright2005KaihsuTai.jpg|thumb|right|Imperial standards of length 1876 in [[Trafalgar Square]], [[London]].]]

Since 1959, the US and the British yard have been defined identically to be 0.9144 metres, to match the ''international yard''.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Metric equivalents in this article usually assume this latest official definition. Before this date, the most precise measurement of the Imperial Standard Yard was {{val|0.914398416}} metres.<ref>Sears et al. 1928. ''Phil Trans A'' 227:281</ref>
{{-}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table of length equivalent units
! Unit
! Relative to previous
! Feet
! Millimetres
! [[Metre]]s
! Notes
|-
|align=center| ''[[thou (unit of length)|thou]]''
|
|align=right| {{frac|12000}}
|align=right| 0.0254
|align=right|
| 25.4 μm
|-
|align=center| ''[[inch]]''
| 1000 thou
|align=right| {{frac|12}}
|align=right| 25.4
|align=right|
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[foot (length)|foot]]''
| 12 inches
|align=right| 1
|align=right| 304.8
|align=right| 0.3048
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[yard]]''
| 3 feet
|align=right| 3
|align=right| 914.4
|align=right| 0.9144
| Defined as exactly 0.9144 metres since 1959
|-
|align=center| ''[[furlong]]''
| 220 yards
|align=right| 660
|align=right|
|align=right| 201.168
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[mile]]''
| 8 furlongs
|align=right| 5,280
|align=right|
|align=right| 1,609.344
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[league (unit)|league]]''
| 3 miles
|align=right| 15,840
|align=right|
|align=right| 4,828.032
| No longer an official unit in any nation.
|-
|align=center colspan=6| '''Maritime units'''
|-valign=top
|align=center| ''[[fathom]]''
|
|align=right| 6.08 or 6<ref>The exact figure was 6.08 feet but 6 feet was in use in practice.</ref>
|align=right| 1,853.184
|align=right| {{val|1.853184}}
|The British [[Admiralty]] in practice used a fathom as 6 feet. This was despite its being {{frac|1000}} of a nautical mile (i.e. 6.08 feet) until the adoption of the international nautical mile. The commonly accepted definition of a fathom was always 6 feet. The conflict was inconsequential in determining depth as Admiralty nautical charts used feet as depths below 5 fathoms on older imperial charts. Today all charts worldwide are metric, except for USA Hydrographic Office charts, which use feet for all depth ranges.
|-valign=top
|align=center| ''[[cable length|cable]]''
| ~100 fathoms
|align=right| 608
|align=right|
|align=right| 185.3184
| One tenth of a nautical mile. When in use it was approximated colloquially as 100 fathoms.
|-valign=top
|align=center| ''[[nautical mile]]''
| 10 cables
|align=right| 6,080
|align=right|
|align=right| 1,853.184
| Used to measure distances at sea. Until the adoption of the international definition of 1852 metres in 1970, the British nautical (Admiralty) mile was defined as 6,080 feet. It was not readily expressible in terms of any of the intermediate units, because it was derived from the circumference of the Earth (like the original metre).
|-
|align=center colspan=6| '''Gunter's survey units (17th century onwards)'''
|-
|align=center| ''[[link (unit)|link]]''
|
|align=right| {{frac|66|100}}
|align=right| 201.168
|align=right| {{val|0.201168}}
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[pole (unit of length)|pole]]''
| 25 links
|align=right| {{frac|66|4}} 
|align=right| 5,029.2
|align=right| 5.0292
| The pole is also called ''rod'' or ''perch''.
|-
|align=center| ''[[chain (unit)|chain]]''
| 4 poles
|align=right| 66
|align=right|
|align=right| 20.1168
| {{frac|10}} furlong
|}

=== Area ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Area
! Unit
! Relation to units of length
! Square feet
! Square rods
! Square miles
! Square metres
! [[Hectare]]s
! Notes
|-
| ''[[Rod (length)|perch]]''
|align=center| 1 rod × 1 rod
|align=right|272.25
|align=right|1
|align=right|{{frac|10240}}
|align=right|{{val|25.29285264}}
|align=right|{{val|0.002529}}
|Although the proper term is ''square rod'', for centuries this unit has been called a ''pole'' or ''perch'' or, more properly ''square pole'' or ''square perch''.
|-
| ''[[rood#Measurement of area or length|rood]]''
|align=center| 1 furlong × 1 rod<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/Publications/upload/h4402_appenc.pdf |title= Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurements|accessdate=4 January 2007|format=pdf |work=|publisher=NIST}}</ref>
|align=right|10,890
|align=right|40
|align=right|{{frac|2560}}
|align=right|{{val|1011.7141056}}
|align=right|0.1012
|The rood is also called a ''rod''.<ref>http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0272%2FKC%2FKCAR%2F6%2F2;recurse=1</ref><ref>http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0272%2FKC%2FKCAR%2FMON%2F38</ref>
|-
| ''[[acre]]''
|align=center| {{nowrap|1 furlong × 1 chain}}
|align=right|43,560
|align=right|160
|align=right|{{frac|640}}
|align=right| {{val|4046.8564224}}
|align=right|0.4047
|
|-
|colspan=8|'''Note:''' All equivalences are exact except the hectares, which are accurate to four significant figures.
|}

=== Volume ===
In 1824, Britain adopted a close approximation to the ale gallon known as the imperial gallon. The imperial gallon was based on the volume of 10 [[Pound (mass)|lb]] of distilled water weighed in air with brass weights with the barometer standing at 30 [[inch of mercury|in Hg]] at a temperature of 62 [[Fahrenheit|°F]]. In 1963 this definition was refined as the space occupied by 10 lb of distilled water of density 0.998 859 [[gram|g]]/[[millilitre|ml]] weighed in air of density 0.001 217 g/ml against weights of density 8.136 g/ml. This works out to 4.545 964 591 L, or 277.420 cu in. The Weights and Measures Act of 1985 switched to a gallon of exactly 4.546 09 L (approximately 277.4 cu in).<ref>[http://www.sizes.com/units/gallon_imperial.htm Sizes.com]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table of volume units
! Unit
! Imperial ounce
! Imperial pint
! [[Millilitre]]s
! Cubic inches
! US ounces
! US pints
|-
|align=center| ''[[fluid ounce]]'' (fl oz)
|align=right| 1
|align=right| {{frac|20}}
| {{convert|28.4130625|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''gill''
|align=right| 5
|align=right| {{frac|4}}
| {{convert|142.0653125|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''[[pint]]'' (pt)
|align=right| 20
|align=right| 1
| {{convert|568.26125|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''[[quart]]'' (qt)
|align=right| 40
|align=right| 2
| {{convert|1136.5225|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''[[gallon]]'' (gal)
|align=right| 160
|align=right| 8
| {{convert|4546.09|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|colspan=7|'''Note:''' The millilitre equivalences are exact whereas the conversions to cubic-inch and US measures are correct to five significant figures.
|}

For a comparison to the US customary system see the article on [[Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems]].

=== Mass ===
In the 19th and 20th centuries Britain has used three different systems for mass and weight:<ref>The [[mass versus weight|distinction between mass and weight]] is not always clearly drawn. In certain contexts the term ''[[pound-force|pound]]'' may refer to a unit of force rather than mass.</ref>
*[[troy weight]], used for precious metals;
*[[avoirdupois]] weight, used for most other purposes; and
*[[apothecaries' weight]], now virtually unused since the metric system is used for all scientific purposes.

The troy pound ({{val|373.2417216|u=g}}) was made the primary unit of mass by the 1824 Act; however, its use was abolished in Britain on 6 January 1879, making the Avoirdupois pound the primary unit of mass with only the troy ounce ({{val|31.1034768|u=g}}) and its [[decimal]] subdivisions retained. In all the systems, the fundamental unit is the [[Pound (mass)|pound]], and all other units are defined as fractions or multiples of it.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table of mass units
! Unit
! Pounds
! Grams
! [[Kilogram]]s
! Notes
|-
|align=center| ''[[Grain (mass)|grain]]''
|align=right| {{frac|7000}}
|align=right| {{val|0.06479891}}
|align=right|
| Exactly {{val|64.79891}} milligrams.
|-
|align=center| ''[[Dram (unit)|drachm]]''
|align=right| {{frac|256}}
|align=right| 1.7718451953125
|align=right|
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[ounce]]'' (oz)
|align=right| {{frac|16}}
|align=right| {{val|28.349523125}}
|align=right|
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[Pound (mass)|pound]]'' (lb)
|align=right| 1
|align=right| {{val|453.59237}}
|align=right| {{val|0.45359237}}
| Exactly {{val|453.59237}} grams by definition.
|-
|align=center| ''[[Stone (mass)|stone]]'' (st)
|align=right| 14
|align=right| {{val|6350.29318}}
|align=right| {{val|6.35029318}}
| A person's weight is often quoted in stone and pounds in English-speaking countries using the imperial system, with the exception of the United States and Canada, where it is usually quoted in pounds.
|-
|align=center| ''quarter''
|align=right| 28
|align=right|
|align=right| {{val|12.70058636}}
| A "quarter" was also commonly used to refer to a quarter of a pound in a retail context.
|-
|align=center| ''[[hundredweight]]'' (cwt)
|align=right| 112
|align=right|
|align=right| {{val|50.80234544}}
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[ton]]'' (t)
|align=right| 2240
|align=right|
|align=right| {{val|1016.0469088}}
| 20 hundredweights in both systems, US hundredweight being lighter.
|}

The British [[ton]] (the [[long ton]]), is 2240 pounds, which is very close to a metric [[tonne]], whereas the ton generally used in the United States is the "short ton" of 2000 pounds (907.18474 kg). Each is divided into 20 hundredweights (cwt), the British hundredweight of 112 pounds being 12% heavier than the American hundredweight.

{{See|Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems}}

== Current use of imperial units ==
[[Image:MetricImperialUSCustomaryUnits.jpg|thumb|175px|A baby bottle that measures in three measurement systems—metric, imperial (UK), and US customary.]]

=== United Kingdom ===
{{Main|Metrication in the United Kingdom}}

British law now defines each imperial unit in terms of the metric equivalent. The metric system is in official use within the United Kingdom; however, use of Imperial unit is widespread in many cases.

The [http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951804_en_2.htm Units of Measurement Regulations 1995] require that all measuring devices used in trade or retail be capable of measuring and displaying metric quantities. This has now been proven in court against the so-called "[[Metric Martyrs]]", a small group of market traders who insisted on trading in imperial units only. Contrary to the impression given by some press reports, these regulations have never placed any obstacle in the way of using imperial units alongside metric units. Almost all traders in the UK will accept requests from customers specified in imperial units, and scales which display in both unit systems are commonplace in the retail trade. Metric price signs may currently be accompanied by imperial price signs (known as supplementary indicators) provided that the imperial signs are no larger and no more prominent than the official metric ones. The EU's deadline of 31 December 2009 to enforce metric-only labels and ban any ''supplementary indicators'' (imperial measurements) on goods after the deadline has been abolished. On 9 May 2007 the European Commission agreed to allow ''supplementary indications'' alongside the statutory metric indications beyond 2009.<ref name=EUreverseban>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6620117,00.html |title=EU shelves ban on imperial measures |accessdate=15 May 2007|date=9 May 2007 |year= |month= |format=online |work= |publisher= Press Association/Guardian Unlimited }}</ref>

The United Kingdom completed its legal transition to SI units in 1995, but many imperial units are still in official use: draught beer ''must'' be sold in pints<ref name=WMbeer>{{cite web |url=http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073792198 |title=BusinessLink: Weights and measures: Rules for pubs, restaurants and cafes|accessdate=2009-08-24|date= |year= |month= |format=online |work= |publisher= Department for Business, Innovation & Skills }}</ref>, road-sign distances ''must'' be in yards and miles<ref name=WMroads>{{cite web |url=http://www.bwmaonline.com/Transport%20-%20DfT%20memo.htm |title=Department for Transport statement on metric road signs |accessdate=2009-08-24|date=2002-07-12 |year= |month= |format=online |work= |publisher=BWMA }}</ref>, road-sign length or width (but not weight) restrictions ''must'' be in feet and inches (although an equivalent in metres may be shown as well)<ref name=WMroads /> and road speed limits ''must'' be in [[miles per hour]]<ref name=WMroads />, therefore instruments in vehicles sold in Britain must be capable of displaying miles per hour. (Foreign vehicles, such as all post-2005 Irish vehicles, may legally have instruments displayed only in kilometres per hour.) Even though the [[troy weight|troy pound]] was outlawed in Great Britain in the Weights and Measures Act of 1878, the ''troy ounce'' still ''may'' be used for the weight of precious stones and metals. The railways are also a big user of imperial units, with distances officially measured in miles and yards or miles and [[chain (length)|chain]]s, and also feet and inches, and speeds are in miles per hour, although many modern metro and tram systems are entirely metric, and [[London Underground]] uses both metric (for distances) and imperial (for speeds).{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} Metric is also used for the [[Channel Tunnel]] and on [[High Speed 1]]. Adjacent to [[Ashford International railway station]] and [[Dollands Moor Freight Yard]], railway speeds are given in both metric and imperial units.

The use of SI units is mandated by law for the retail sale of food and other commodities, but most British people still use imperial units in colloquial discussion of distance (miles) and speed (miles per hour). Milk is available in both half-litre and pint containers. Most people still measure their weight in stone and pounds, and height in feet and inches—but these must be converted to metric if recorded officially, for example in medical records. Petrol is sometimes quoted as being so much per gallon, despite having been sold exclusively in litres for two decades. Likewise, fuel consumption for cars is still usually in miles per gallon, though official figures always include litres per 100 km equivalents. Fahrenheit equivalents are occasionally given after Celsius in weather forecasts. Threads on non metric nuts and bolts etc are sometimes referred to as Imperial, especially in the UK.

=== Canada ===
{{Main|Canadian units}}
{{See also|Metrication in Canada}}

In the 1970s the metric system and SI units were introduced in Canada to replace the imperial system. Within the government, efforts to implement the metric system were extensive; almost any agency, institution, or function provided by the government uses SI units exclusively. Imperial units were eliminated from all road signs, although both systems of measurement will still be found on privately-owned signs, such as the height warnings at the entrance of a [[Multi-storey car park|multi-storey parking facility]]. In the 1980s, momentum to fully convert to the metric system stalled when the government of [[Brian Mulroney]] was elected. There was heavy opposition to metrication and as a compromise the government maintains legal definitions for and allows use of imperial units as long as metric units are shown as well.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/W-6/sc:2//en#anchorsc:2 |title=Weights and Measures Act: Canadian units of measure |publisher=Justice Canada |accessdate=2007-11-14
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/ch11e.shtml#11.2 |title=Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising |chapter=11 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=[[Canadian Food Inspection Agency]] |accessdate=2007-12-01
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowTdm/cr/C.R.C.-c.417///en |title=Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations |accessdate=2007-12-01 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=Justice Canada, Legislative Services Branch}}</ref><ref name="Canadiancompromise">
{{cite web |url=http://archives.cbc.ca/clip.asp?page=1&IDLan=1&IDClip=10620&IDCat=345&IDCatPa=261 |title=A Canadian compromise |accessdate=2008-03-12 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=CBC |quote=
}}</ref> The law requires that measured products (such as fuel and meat) be priced in metric units, although an imperial price can be shown if a metric price is present.<ref name="Canadian compromise">
{{cite web |url=http://archives.cbc.ca/clip.asp?page=1&IDLan=1&IDClip=10620&IDCat=345&IDCatPa=261 |title=A Canadian compromise |accessdate=2008-03-11 |date= |work= |publisher=CBC |quote=
}}</ref><ref name="Livre">
{{cite web |url=http://archives.radio-canada.ca/clip.asp?page=1&IDLan=0&IDClip=9378&IDCat=216&IDCatPa=151 |title=Les livres et les pieds, toujours présents (eng:The pounds and feet, always present) |accessdate=2008-03-11 |date= |work= |publisher=5 sur 5, Société [[Radio-Canada]] |quote= |langage=French
}}</ref> However, there tends to be leniency in regards to fruits and vegetables being priced in imperial units only.<ref name="Livre"/> [[Environment Canada]] still offers an imperial unit option beside metric units, even though weather is typically measured and reported in metric units in the Canadian media. However, some radio stations near the United States border (such as [[CIMX]] and [[CIDR-FM|CIDR]]) primarily use imperial units to report the weather.

Imperial units are still used in ordinary conversation. Few older Canadians would exclusively use SI units to describe their weight and height; newborns are measured in SI at hospitals, but the birth weight and length is usually announced to family and friends in imperial units. Although drivers' licences in some provinces like British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador use SI units, other provinces like Saskatchewan use imperial units.<ref>[http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/drivers_licences/photo_id.htm Driver’s Licences: Photo ID]</ref> In livestock auction markets, cattle are sold in dollars per [[hundredweight]] (short), whereas hogs are sold in dollars per hundred kilograms. Imperial units still dominate in recipes, construction, house renovation and gardening, although often informally. Land is now surveyed and registered in metric units, although initial surveys used imperial units. For example, partitioning of farm land on the prairies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was done in imperial units; this accounts for imperial units of distance and area retaining wide use in the [[Prairie Provinces]]. The size of most apartments, condominiums and houses continues to be described in [[square feet]] rather than square metres, and carpet or flooring tile is purchased by the square foot. Motor-vehicle fuel consumption is reported in both litres per 100 km and statute miles per imperial gallon,<ref>http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/tools/fuelratings/ratings-search.cfm?attr=8</ref> leading to the erroneous impression that Canadian vehicles are 20% more fuel-efficient than their apparently-identical American counterparts, their fuel economy being reported in statute miles per US gallon. (neither country specifies which gallon is used)

Imperial units also retain common use in firearms and ammunition. Imperial measures are still used in the description of cartridge types, even when the cartridge is of relatively recent invention (e.g. 0.204 [[Sturm, Ruger|Ruger]], 0.17 HMR, where the calibre is expressed in decimal fractions of an inch). However, ammunition which is classified in metric already is still kept metric (e.g. [[9x19mm Parabellum|9 mm]], [[7.62 mm calibre|7.62 mm]]). In the manufacture of ammunition, bullet and powder weights are expressed in terms of [[grain (measure)|grains]] for both metric and imperial cartridges.

As in most of the [[western world]], air navigation is based on ''nautical'' units, e.g. the [[nautical mile]], which is neither imperial nor metric.

===Other Countries===

Some imperial measurements remain in limited use in [[Metrication in India|India]], Malaysia, South Africa and [[Hong Kong units of measurement|Hong Kong]]. Real estate agents continue to use acres and square feet to describe area in conjunction with hectares and square metres{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}. Measurements in feet and inches, especially for a person's height, are frequently met in conversation and non-governmental publications.

Towns and villages in Malaysia with no proper names had adopted the mile (known also as ''batu'' in [[Malay language|Malay]]) to denote their locations along a rural main road (i.e. "3rd Mile", "Batu Enam" or "Batu 11"); many of their names remain unchanged even after the adoption of the metric system for distance in the country.

===Republic of Ireland===
{{Main|Metrication in Ireland}}
The Republic of Ireland has officially changed over to the metric system since entering the [[European Union]], with distances on new road signs being metric since 1977 and speed limits being metric since 2005. The imperial system remains in limited use - for sales of [[beer]] in [[pubs]] (traditionally sold by the [[pint]]). All other goods are required by law to be sold in metric units, although old quantities are retained for some goods like butter, which is sold in 454-gram (1 lb) packaging. The majority of cars sold pre-2005 feature speedometers with miles per hour. The imperial system is still often used in everyday conversation, particularly by the elder generation.

=== Other countries ===
Petrol/gasoline is still sold by the imperial gallon in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Burma, Grenada, Guyana, Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="gas1">{{cite web |url=http://www.international-fuel-prices.com/downloads/FuelPrices1999.pdf |title=FuelPrices1999 |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format=pdf |pages=9|work=|publisher=German Technical Cooperation}}</ref><ref name="gas6">{{cite web |url=http://www.grenadavisitorforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345 |title=GRENADA VISITOR FORUM - Cost Of Living - Grocery Prices |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=|quote= }}</ref>{{dead link||November 2009}}<ref name="gas7">{{cite web |url=http://agriculture.gov.gd/newsitem.aspx?nid=375 |title=The Government of Grenada - The Ministry of Agriculture |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=|quote=he price of gasoline at the pumps was fixed at EC$7.50 per imperial gallon... }}</ref>{{dead link||November 2009}}<ref name="gas3">{{cite web |url=http://mof.gov.bz/faqresults.asp?category=SUPPLIES+CONTROL&question=39 |title=Belize Ministry of Finance::FAQ |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work= |publisher=Belize Ministry of Finance|quote=#Kerosene per US Gallon (per Imperial gallon)#Gasoline (Regular)(per Imperial Gallon)#
Gasoline (Premium) (per Imperial Gallon)#Diesel (per Imperial Gallon) }}</ref><ref name="gas4">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Caribbean_and_Central_America/Belize/Shopping-Belize-BR-1.html |title=Belize shopping |accessdate=2008-01-15 |work= |quote=Although the Belize $ is pegged at two for every US$, they use Imperial gallons rather than the smaller US gallons (0.83 of an Imperial) when dealing with gasoline. The cheapest grade of gasoline was US$4.69/Imperial gallon}}</ref><ref name="gas5">{{cite web |url=http://www.antigua-barbuda.com/business_politics/budget_speeches/budget_speech_2001.asp |title=The High Commission Antigua and Barbuda |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work= }}</ref><ref name="gas2">{{cite web |url=http://www.international-fuel-prices.com/downloads/FuelPrices2005.pdf |title=FuelPrices2005 |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format=pdf |work= |pages=96|publisher=German Technical Cooperation}}</ref><ref name="gas8">{{cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DF113DF936A1575BC0A966958260 |title=500 Are Detained in Burmese Capital |accessdate=2008-01-16 |format= |work=|quote=... the Government cut the ration of subsidized gasoline from six to four imperial gallons a week}}</ref><ref name="gas9">{{cite web |url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8286 |title=Burma's Activists March against Fuel Price |publisher+HikeThe Irrawaddy News Magazine Online Edition Covering Burma |accessdate=2008-01-16 |format= |work=|quote=The government, which holds a monopoly on fuel sales and subsidizes them, raised prices of fuel from 1,500 kyats (US $1.16) to 3,000 kyats ($2.33) per imperial gallon for diesel and to 2,500 kyats ($1.94) for gasoline.|date=20 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="gas10">{{cite web |url=http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:K96Q9Q58hD4J:news.corporate.findlaw.com/ap/i/626/08-22-2007/73ae00161f8c1f54.html+Burma+gasoline+imperial+gallon+price&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us&client=firefox-a|title=Fuel Hike Protest Begins in Myanmar|accessdate=2008-01-16 |author=Win, Aye Aye |date=22 August 2007 |work= |publisher=Associated Press|quote=The government, which holds a monopoly on fuel sales and subsidizes them, raised prices of fuel from $1.16 to $2.33 per imperial gallon for diesel and to $1.94 for gasoline. A canister of natural gas containing 17 gallons was raised from 39 cents to $1.94.}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{multicol}}
*[[Board foot]]
*[[Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems]]
*[[Conversion of units]]
*[[Cooking weights and measures]]
*[[Cord (unit of volume)]]
{{multicol-break}}
*[[History of measurement]]
*[[Metrication]]
*[[United States customary units]]
*[[Unit of measurement]]
{{multicol-end}}

{{systems of measurement}}

== References ==
<references/>
*Appendices B and C of [http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/230/235/h442003.htm NIST Handbook 44]
*Barry N. Taylor's [http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP811/ NIST Special Publication 811], also available as [http://physics.nist.gov/Document/sp811.pdf a PDF file]
*6 George IV chapter 12, 1825 (statute)

== External links ==
*[http://www.bwmaonline.com/ British Weights And Measures Association]
*[http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowFullDoc/cs/W-6///en Canada Weights and Measures Act 1970-71-72]
*[http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/Publications/upload/h4402_appenc.pdf General table of units of measure - NIST - pdf]
*[http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/ How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imperial Units}}
[[Category:Customary units of measure]]
[[Category:Imperial units|*]]
[[Category:Systems of units]]

[[ast:Sistema Anglosaxón d'Unidaes]]
[[be-x-old:Ангельская сыстэма мер]]
[[bg:Имперска единица]]
[[cs:Imperiální jednotka]]
[[cy:Unedau imperial]]
[[de:Angloamerikanisches Maßsystem]]
[[es:Sistema Anglosajón de Unidades]]
[[fr:Unités de mesure anglo-saxonnes]]
[[ko:야드파운드법]]
[[hr:Imperijalni sustav mjera]]
[[it:Sistema imperiale britannico]]
[[he:מערכת היחידות הבריטית]]
[[ms:Sistem Imperial]]
[[nl:Brits-Amerikaans maatsysteem]]
[[ja:ヤード・ポンド法]]
[[pl:Anglosaski układ jednostek miar]]
[[pt:Unidade inglesa]]
[[ro:Sistemul anglo-saxon de unităţi]]
[[ru:Английская система мер]]
[[simple:Imperial unit]]
[[sk:Angloamerická sústava mier]]
[[sl:Imperialna enota]]
[[fi:Brittiläinen yksikköjärjestelmä]]
[[tr:İmparatorluk birimleri]]
[[zh:英制单位]]

Benutzer:Elrond/Britisches Einheitensystem

2009-11-23T21:16:28Z

Mixsynth: /* Other countries */

: ''This article is about the post-1824 measures used in the [[British Empire]] and countries in the British [[sphere of influence]]. For information about the units used in England before 1824, see [[English units]]. For information about the units used in the US, see [[United States customary units]]. For information about the system of weight, see [[Avoirdupois]].''

'''Imperial units''' or the '''imperial system''' is a [[system of units]], first defined in the British [[Weights and Measures Act]] of 1824, later refined (until 1959) and reduced. The system came into official use across the [[British Empire]]. By the late 20th century all nations of the former empire had [[metrication|officially adopted]] the [[metric system]] as their main system of measurement.

[[Image:Weights and Measures office.jpg|thumb|250px|The former Weights and Measures office in [[Seven Sisters, London]].]]

== Relation to other systems ==
The imperial system is one of many systems of [[English units|English]] or foot-pound-second units, so named because of the base units of length, mass and time. Although most of the units are defined in more than one system, some subsidiary units were used to a much greater extent, or for different purposes, in one area rather than the other. The distinctions between these systems are often not drawn precisely.

One such system is the [[United States customary units|US customary system]], which is historically derived from units which were in use in England at the time of settlement. Because the United States was already independent at the time, these units were unaffected by the introduction of the imperial system. Units of length and area are mostly shared between the imperial and US systems, albeit being partially and temporally defined differently. Capacity measures differ the most due to the introduction of the imperial [[gallon]] and the unification of wet and dry measures. The [[avoirdupois]] system applies only to weights; it has a ''long'' designation and a ''short'' designation for the hundredweight and ton.

Another distinction to be noted is that between these systems and older British/English units/systems or newer additions. The term ''imperial'' should not be applied to English units that were outlawed in [[Weights and Measures Act]] of 1824 or earlier, or which had fallen out of use by that time, nor to post-imperial inventions such as the [[slug (mass)|slug]] or [[poundal]].

{{See also|Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems}}

==Units==
=== Length ===
[[Image:ImperialStandardsOfLength1876TrafalgarSquare Copyright2005KaihsuTai.jpg|thumb|right|Imperial standards of length 1876 in [[Trafalgar Square]], [[London]].]]

Since 1959, the US and the British yard have been defined identically to be 0.9144 metres, to match the ''international yard''.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Metric equivalents in this article usually assume this latest official definition. Before this date, the most precise measurement of the Imperial Standard Yard was {{val|0.914398416}} metres.<ref>Sears et al. 1928. ''Phil Trans A'' 227:281</ref>
{{-}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table of length equivalent units
! Unit
! Relative to previous
! Feet
! Millimetres
! [[Metre]]s
! Notes
|-
|align=center| ''[[thou (unit of length)|thou]]''
|
|align=right| {{frac|12000}}
|align=right| 0.0254
|align=right|
| 25.4 μm
|-
|align=center| ''[[inch]]''
| 1000 thou
|align=right| {{frac|12}}
|align=right| 25.4
|align=right|
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[foot (length)|foot]]''
| 12 inches
|align=right| 1
|align=right| 304.8
|align=right| 0.3048
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[yard]]''
| 3 feet
|align=right| 3
|align=right| 914.4
|align=right| 0.9144
| Defined as exactly 0.9144 metres since 1959
|-
|align=center| ''[[furlong]]''
| 220 yards
|align=right| 660
|align=right|
|align=right| 201.168
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[mile]]''
| 8 furlongs
|align=right| 5,280
|align=right|
|align=right| 1,609.344
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[league (unit)|league]]''
| 3 miles
|align=right| 15,840
|align=right|
|align=right| 4,828.032
| No longer an official unit in any nation.
|-
|align=center colspan=6| '''Maritime units'''
|-valign=top
|align=center| ''[[fathom]]''
|
|align=right| 6.08 or 6<ref>The exact figure was 6.08 feet but 6 feet was in use in practice.</ref>
|align=right| 1,853.184
|align=right| {{val|1.853184}}
|The British [[Admiralty]] in practice used a fathom as 6 feet. This was despite its being {{frac|1000}} of a nautical mile (i.e. 6.08 feet) until the adoption of the international nautical mile. The commonly accepted definition of a fathom was always 6 feet. The conflict was inconsequential in determining depth as Admiralty nautical charts used feet as depths below 5 fathoms on older imperial charts. Today all charts worldwide are metric, except for USA Hydrographic Office charts, which use feet for all depth ranges.
|-valign=top
|align=center| ''[[cable length|cable]]''
| ~100 fathoms
|align=right| 608
|align=right|
|align=right| 185.3184
| One tenth of a nautical mile. When in use it was approximated colloquially as 100 fathoms.
|-valign=top
|align=center| ''[[nautical mile]]''
| 10 cables
|align=right| 6,080
|align=right|
|align=right| 1,853.184
| Used to measure distances at sea. Until the adoption of the international definition of 1852 metres in 1970, the British nautical (Admiralty) mile was defined as 6,080 feet. It was not readily expressible in terms of any of the intermediate units, because it was derived from the circumference of the Earth (like the original metre).
|-
|align=center colspan=6| '''Gunter's survey units (17th century onwards)'''
|-
|align=center| ''[[link (unit)|link]]''
|
|align=right| {{frac|66|100}}
|align=right| 201.168
|align=right| {{val|0.201168}}
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[pole (unit of length)|pole]]''
| 25 links
|align=right| {{frac|66|4}} 
|align=right| 5,029.2
|align=right| 5.0292
| The pole is also called ''rod'' or ''perch''.
|-
|align=center| ''[[chain (unit)|chain]]''
| 4 poles
|align=right| 66
|align=right|
|align=right| 20.1168
| {{frac|10}} furlong
|}

=== Area ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Area
! Unit
! Relation to units of length
! Square feet
! Square rods
! Square miles
! Square metres
! [[Hectare]]s
! Notes
|-
| ''[[Rod (length)|perch]]''
|align=center| 1 rod × 1 rod
|align=right|272.25
|align=right|1
|align=right|{{frac|10240}}
|align=right|{{val|25.29285264}}
|align=right|{{val|0.002529}}
|Although the proper term is ''square rod'', for centuries this unit has been called a ''pole'' or ''perch'' or, more properly ''square pole'' or ''square perch''.
|-
| ''[[rood#Measurement of area or length|rood]]''
|align=center| 1 furlong × 1 rod<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/Publications/upload/h4402_appenc.pdf |title= Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurements|accessdate=4 January 2007|format=pdf |work=|publisher=NIST}}</ref>
|align=right|10,890
|align=right|40
|align=right|{{frac|2560}}
|align=right|{{val|1011.7141056}}
|align=right|0.1012
|The rood is also called a ''rod''.<ref>http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0272%2FKC%2FKCAR%2F6%2F2;recurse=1</ref><ref>http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0272%2FKC%2FKCAR%2FMON%2F38</ref>
|-
| ''[[acre]]''
|align=center| {{nowrap|1 furlong × 1 chain}}
|align=right|43,560
|align=right|160
|align=right|{{frac|640}}
|align=right| {{val|4046.8564224}}
|align=right|0.4047
|
|-
|colspan=8|'''Note:''' All equivalences are exact except the hectares, which are accurate to four significant figures.
|}

=== Volume ===
In 1824, Britain adopted a close approximation to the ale gallon known as the imperial gallon. The imperial gallon was based on the volume of 10 [[Pound (mass)|lb]] of distilled water weighed in air with brass weights with the barometer standing at 30 [[inch of mercury|in Hg]] at a temperature of 62 [[Fahrenheit|°F]]. In 1963 this definition was refined as the space occupied by 10 lb of distilled water of density 0.998 859 [[gram|g]]/[[millilitre|ml]] weighed in air of density 0.001 217 g/ml against weights of density 8.136 g/ml. This works out to 4.545 964 591 L, or 277.420 cu in. The Weights and Measures Act of 1985 switched to a gallon of exactly 4.546 09 L (approximately 277.4 cu in).<ref>[http://www.sizes.com/units/gallon_imperial.htm Sizes.com]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table of volume units
! Unit
! Imperial ounce
! Imperial pint
! [[Millilitre]]s
! Cubic inches
! US ounces
! US pints
|-
|align=center| ''[[fluid ounce]]'' (fl oz)
|align=right| 1
|align=right| {{frac|20}}
| {{convert|28.4130625|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''gill''
|align=right| 5
|align=right| {{frac|4}}
| {{convert|142.0653125|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''[[pint]]'' (pt)
|align=right| 20
|align=right| 1
| {{convert|568.26125|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''[[quart]]'' (qt)
|align=right| 40
|align=right| 2
| {{convert|1136.5225|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|align=center| ''[[gallon]]'' (gal)
|align=right| 160
|align=right| 8
| {{convert|4546.09|ml|cuin USoz USpt|disp=table|sigfig=5}}
|-
|colspan=7|'''Note:''' The millilitre equivalences are exact whereas the conversions to cubic-inch and US measures are correct to five significant figures.
|}

For a comparison to the US customary system see the article on [[Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems]].

=== Mass ===
In the 19th and 20th centuries Britain has used three different systems for mass and weight:<ref>The [[mass versus weight|distinction between mass and weight]] is not always clearly drawn. In certain contexts the term ''[[pound-force|pound]]'' may refer to a unit of force rather than mass.</ref>
*[[troy weight]], used for precious metals;
*[[avoirdupois]] weight, used for most other purposes; and
*[[apothecaries' weight]], now virtually unused since the metric system is used for all scientific purposes.

The troy pound ({{val|373.2417216|u=g}}) was made the primary unit of mass by the 1824 Act; however, its use was abolished in Britain on 6 January 1879, making the Avoirdupois pound the primary unit of mass with only the troy ounce ({{val|31.1034768|u=g}}) and its [[decimal]] subdivisions retained. In all the systems, the fundamental unit is the [[Pound (mass)|pound]], and all other units are defined as fractions or multiples of it.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table of mass units
! Unit
! Pounds
! Grams
! [[Kilogram]]s
! Notes
|-
|align=center| ''[[Grain (mass)|grain]]''
|align=right| {{frac|7000}}
|align=right| {{val|0.06479891}}
|align=right|
| Exactly {{val|64.79891}} milligrams.
|-
|align=center| ''[[Dram (unit)|drachm]]''
|align=right| {{frac|256}}
|align=right| 1.7718451953125
|align=right|
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[ounce]]'' (oz)
|align=right| {{frac|16}}
|align=right| {{val|28.349523125}}
|align=right|
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[Pound (mass)|pound]]'' (lb)
|align=right| 1
|align=right| {{val|453.59237}}
|align=right| {{val|0.45359237}}
| Exactly {{val|453.59237}} grams by definition.
|-
|align=center| ''[[Stone (mass)|stone]]'' (st)
|align=right| 14
|align=right| {{val|6350.29318}}
|align=right| {{val|6.35029318}}
| A person's weight is often quoted in stone and pounds in English-speaking countries using the imperial system, with the exception of the United States and Canada, where it is usually quoted in pounds.
|-
|align=center| ''quarter''
|align=right| 28
|align=right|
|align=right| {{val|12.70058636}}
| A "quarter" was also commonly used to refer to a quarter of a pound in a retail context.
|-
|align=center| ''[[hundredweight]]'' (cwt)
|align=right| 112
|align=right|
|align=right| {{val|50.80234544}}
|
|-
|align=center| ''[[ton]]'' (t)
|align=right| 2240
|align=right|
|align=right| {{val|1016.0469088}}
| 20 hundredweights in both systems, US hundredweight being lighter.
|}

The British [[ton]] (the [[long ton]]), is 2240 pounds, which is very close to a metric [[tonne]], whereas the ton generally used in the United States is the "short ton" of 2000 pounds (907.18474 kg). Each is divided into 20 hundredweights (cwt), the British hundredweight of 112 pounds being 12% heavier than the American hundredweight.

{{See|Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems}}

== Current use of imperial units ==
[[Image:MetricImperialUSCustomaryUnits.jpg|thumb|175px|A baby bottle that measures in three measurement systems—metric, imperial (UK), and US customary.]]

=== United Kingdom ===
{{Main|Metrication in the United Kingdom}}

British law now defines each imperial unit in terms of the metric equivalent. The metric system is in official use within the United Kingdom; however, use of Imperial unit is widespread in many cases.

The [http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951804_en_2.htm Units of Measurement Regulations 1995] require that all measuring devices used in trade or retail be capable of measuring and displaying metric quantities. This has now been proven in court against the so-called "[[Metric Martyrs]]", a small group of market traders who insisted on trading in imperial units only. Contrary to the impression given by some press reports, these regulations have never placed any obstacle in the way of using imperial units alongside metric units. Almost all traders in the UK will accept requests from customers specified in imperial units, and scales which display in both unit systems are commonplace in the retail trade. Metric price signs may currently be accompanied by imperial price signs (known as supplementary indicators) provided that the imperial signs are no larger and no more prominent than the official metric ones. The EU's deadline of 31 December 2009 to enforce metric-only labels and ban any ''supplementary indicators'' (imperial measurements) on goods after the deadline has been abolished. On 9 May 2007 the European Commission agreed to allow ''supplementary indications'' alongside the statutory metric indications beyond 2009.<ref name=EUreverseban>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6620117,00.html |title=EU shelves ban on imperial measures |accessdate=15 May 2007|date=9 May 2007 |year= |month= |format=online |work= |publisher= Press Association/Guardian Unlimited }}</ref>

The United Kingdom completed its legal transition to SI units in 1995, but many imperial units are still in official use: draught beer ''must'' be sold in pints<ref name=WMbeer>{{cite web |url=http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073792198 |title=BusinessLink: Weights and measures: Rules for pubs, restaurants and cafes|accessdate=2009-08-24|date= |year= |month= |format=online |work= |publisher= Department for Business, Innovation & Skills }}</ref>, road-sign distances ''must'' be in yards and miles<ref name=WMroads>{{cite web |url=http://www.bwmaonline.com/Transport%20-%20DfT%20memo.htm |title=Department for Transport statement on metric road signs |accessdate=2009-08-24|date=2002-07-12 |year= |month= |format=online |work= |publisher=BWMA }}</ref>, road-sign length or width (but not weight) restrictions ''must'' be in feet and inches (although an equivalent in metres may be shown as well)<ref name=WMroads /> and road speed limits ''must'' be in [[miles per hour]]<ref name=WMroads />, therefore instruments in vehicles sold in Britain must be capable of displaying miles per hour. (Foreign vehicles, such as all post-2005 Irish vehicles, may legally have instruments displayed only in kilometres per hour.) Even though the [[troy weight|troy pound]] was outlawed in Great Britain in the Weights and Measures Act of 1878, the ''troy ounce'' still ''may'' be used for the weight of precious stones and metals. The railways are also a big user of imperial units, with distances officially measured in miles and yards or miles and [[chain (length)|chain]]s, and also feet and inches, and speeds are in miles per hour, although many modern metro and tram systems are entirely metric, and [[London Underground]] uses both metric (for distances) and imperial (for speeds).{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} Metric is also used for the [[Channel Tunnel]] and on [[High Speed 1]]. Adjacent to [[Ashford International railway station]] and [[Dollands Moor Freight Yard]], railway speeds are given in both metric and imperial units.

The use of SI units is mandated by law for the retail sale of food and other commodities, but most British people still use imperial units in colloquial discussion of distance (miles) and speed (miles per hour). Milk is available in both half-litre and pint containers. Most people still measure their weight in stone and pounds, and height in feet and inches—but these must be converted to metric if recorded officially, for example in medical records. Petrol is sometimes quoted as being so much per gallon, despite having been sold exclusively in litres for two decades. Likewise, fuel consumption for cars is still usually in miles per gallon, though official figures always include litres per 100 km equivalents. Fahrenheit equivalents are occasionally given after Celsius in weather forecasts. Threads on non metric nuts and bolts etc are sometimes referred to as Imperial, especially in the UK.

=== Canada ===
{{Main|Canadian units}}
{{See also|Metrication in Canada}}

In the 1970s the metric system and SI units were introduced in Canada to replace the imperial system. Within the government, efforts to implement the metric system were extensive; almost any agency, institution, or function provided by the government uses SI units exclusively. Imperial units were eliminated from all road signs, although both systems of measurement will still be found on privately-owned signs, such as the height warnings at the entrance of a [[Multi-storey car park|multi-storey parking facility]]. In the 1980s, momentum to fully convert to the metric system stalled when the government of [[Brian Mulroney]] was elected. There was heavy opposition to metrication and as a compromise the government maintains legal definitions for and allows use of imperial units as long as metric units are shown as well.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/W-6/sc:2//en#anchorsc:2 |title=Weights and Measures Act: Canadian units of measure |publisher=Justice Canada |accessdate=2007-11-14
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/ch11e.shtml#11.2 |title=Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising |chapter=11 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=[[Canadian Food Inspection Agency]] |accessdate=2007-12-01
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowTdm/cr/C.R.C.-c.417///en |title=Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations |accessdate=2007-12-01 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=Justice Canada, Legislative Services Branch}}</ref><ref name="Canadiancompromise">
{{cite web |url=http://archives.cbc.ca/clip.asp?page=1&IDLan=1&IDClip=10620&IDCat=345&IDCatPa=261 |title=A Canadian compromise |accessdate=2008-03-12 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=CBC |quote=
}}</ref> The law requires that measured products (such as fuel and meat) be priced in metric units, although an imperial price can be shown if a metric price is present.<ref name="Canadian compromise">
{{cite web |url=http://archives.cbc.ca/clip.asp?page=1&IDLan=1&IDClip=10620&IDCat=345&IDCatPa=261 |title=A Canadian compromise |accessdate=2008-03-11 |date= |work= |publisher=CBC |quote=
}}</ref><ref name="Livre">
{{cite web |url=http://archives.radio-canada.ca/clip.asp?page=1&IDLan=0&IDClip=9378&IDCat=216&IDCatPa=151 |title=Les livres et les pieds, toujours présents (eng:The pounds and feet, always present) |accessdate=2008-03-11 |date= |work= |publisher=5 sur 5, Société [[Radio-Canada]] |quote= |langage=French
}}</ref> However, there tends to be leniency in regards to fruits and vegetables being priced in imperial units only.<ref name="Livre"/> [[Environment Canada]] still offers an imperial unit option beside metric units, even though weather is typically measured and reported in metric units in the Canadian media. However, some radio stations near the United States border (such as [[CIMX]] and [[CIDR-FM|CIDR]]) primarily use imperial units to report the weather.

Imperial units are still used in ordinary conversation. Few older Canadians would exclusively use SI units to describe their weight and height; newborns are measured in SI at hospitals, but the birth weight and length is usually announced to family and friends in imperial units. Although drivers' licences in some provinces like British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador use SI units, other provinces like Saskatchewan use imperial units.<ref>[http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/drivers_licences/photo_id.htm Driver’s Licences: Photo ID]</ref> In livestock auction markets, cattle are sold in dollars per [[hundredweight]] (short), whereas hogs are sold in dollars per hundred kilograms. Imperial units still dominate in recipes, construction, house renovation and gardening, although often informally. Land is now surveyed and registered in metric units, although initial surveys used imperial units. For example, partitioning of farm land on the prairies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was done in imperial units; this accounts for imperial units of distance and area retaining wide use in the [[Prairie Provinces]]. The size of most apartments, condominiums and houses continues to be described in [[square feet]] rather than square metres, and carpet or flooring tile is purchased by the square foot. Motor-vehicle fuel consumption is reported in both litres per 100 km and statute miles per imperial gallon,<ref>http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/tools/fuelratings/ratings-search.cfm?attr=8</ref> leading to the erroneous impression that Canadian vehicles are 20% more fuel-efficient than their apparently-identical American counterparts, their fuel economy being reported in statute miles per US gallon. (neither country specifies which gallon is used)

Imperial units also retain common use in firearms and ammunition. Imperial measures are still used in the description of cartridge types, even when the cartridge is of relatively recent invention (e.g. 0.204 [[Sturm, Ruger|Ruger]], 0.17 HMR, where the calibre is expressed in decimal fractions of an inch). However, ammunition which is classified in metric already is still kept metric (e.g. [[9x19mm Parabellum|9 mm]], [[7.62 mm calibre|7.62 mm]]). In the manufacture of ammunition, bullet and powder weights are expressed in terms of [[grain (measure)|grains]] for both metric and imperial cartridges.

As in most of the [[western world]], air navigation is based on ''nautical'' units, e.g. the [[nautical mile]], which is neither imperial nor metric.

===Other Countries===

Some imperial measurements remain in limited use in [[Metrication in India|India]], Malaysia, South Africa and [[Hong Kong units of measurement|Hong Kong]]. Real estate agents continue to use acres and square feet to describe area in conjunction with hectares and square metres{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}. Measurements in feet and inches, especially for a person's height, are frequently met in conversation and non-governmental publications.

Towns and villages in Malaysia with no proper names had adopted the mile (known also as ''batu'' in [[Malay language|Malay]]) to denote their locations along a rural main road (i.e. "3rd Mile", "Batu Enam" or "Batu 11"); many of their names remain unchanged even after the adoption of the metric system for distance in the country.

===Republic of Ireland===
{{Main|Metrication in Ireland}}
The Republic of Ireland has officially changed over to the metric system since entering the [[European Union]], with distances on new road signs being metric since 1977 and speed limits being metric since 2005. The imperial system remains in limited use - for sales of [[beer]] in [[pubs]] (traditionally sold by the [[pint]]). All other goods are required by law to be sold in metric units, although old quantities are retained for some goods like butter, which is sold in 454-gram (1 lb) packaging. The majority of cars sold pre-2005 feature speedometers with miles per hour. The imperial system is still often used in everyday conversation, particularly by the elder generation.

=== Other countries ===
Petrol/gasoline is still sold by the imperial gallon in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Burma, Grenada, Guyana, Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="gas1">{{cite web |url=http://www.international-fuel-prices.com/downloads/FuelPrices1999.pdf |title=FuelPrices1999 |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format=pdf |pages=9|work=|publisher=German Technical Cooperation}}</ref><ref name="gas6">{{cite web |url=http://www.grenadavisitorforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345 |title=GRENADA VISITOR FORUM - Cost Of Living - Grocery Prices |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=|quote= }}</ref>{{dead link||November 2009}}<ref name="gas7">{{cite web |url=http://agriculture.gov.gd/newsitem.aspx?nid=375 |title=The Government of Grenada - The Ministry of Agriculture |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=|quote=he price of gasoline at the pumps was fixed at EC$7.50 per imperial gallon... }}</ref><ref name="gas3">{{cite web |url=http://mof.gov.bz/faqresults.asp?category=SUPPLIES+CONTROL&question=39 |title=Belize Ministry of Finance::FAQ |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work= |publisher=Belize Ministry of Finance|quote=#Kerosene per US Gallon (per Imperial gallon)#Gasoline (Regular)(per Imperial Gallon)#
Gasoline (Premium) (per Imperial Gallon)#Diesel (per Imperial Gallon) }}</ref><ref name="gas4">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Caribbean_and_Central_America/Belize/Shopping-Belize-BR-1.html |title=Belize shopping |accessdate=2008-01-15 |work= |quote=Although the Belize $ is pegged at two for every US$, they use Imperial gallons rather than the smaller US gallons (0.83 of an Imperial) when dealing with gasoline. The cheapest grade of gasoline was US$4.69/Imperial gallon}}</ref><ref name="gas5">{{cite web |url=http://www.antigua-barbuda.com/business_politics/budget_speeches/budget_speech_2001.asp |title=The High Commission Antigua and Barbuda |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work= }}</ref><ref name="gas2">{{cite web |url=http://www.international-fuel-prices.com/downloads/FuelPrices2005.pdf |title=FuelPrices2005 |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format=pdf |work= |pages=96|publisher=German Technical Cooperation}}</ref><ref name="gas8">{{cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DF113DF936A1575BC0A966958260 |title=500 Are Detained in Burmese Capital |accessdate=2008-01-16 |format= |work=|quote=... the Government cut the ration of subsidized gasoline from six to four imperial gallons a week}}</ref><ref name="gas9">{{cite web |url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8286 |title=Burma's Activists March against Fuel Price |publisher+HikeThe Irrawaddy News Magazine Online Edition Covering Burma |accessdate=2008-01-16 |format= |work=|quote=The government, which holds a monopoly on fuel sales and subsidizes them, raised prices of fuel from 1,500 kyats (US $1.16) to 3,000 kyats ($2.33) per imperial gallon for diesel and to 2,500 kyats ($1.94) for gasoline.|date=20 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="gas10">{{cite web |url=http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:K96Q9Q58hD4J:news.corporate.findlaw.com/ap/i/626/08-22-2007/73ae00161f8c1f54.html+Burma+gasoline+imperial+gallon+price&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us&client=firefox-a|title=Fuel Hike Protest Begins in Myanmar|accessdate=2008-01-16 |author=Win, Aye Aye |date=22 August 2007 |work= |publisher=Associated Press|quote=The government, which holds a monopoly on fuel sales and subsidizes them, raised prices of fuel from $1.16 to $2.33 per imperial gallon for diesel and to $1.94 for gasoline. A canister of natural gas containing 17 gallons was raised from 39 cents to $1.94.}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{multicol}}
*[[Board foot]]
*[[Comparison of the imperial and US customary measurement systems]]
*[[Conversion of units]]
*[[Cooking weights and measures]]
*[[Cord (unit of volume)]]
{{multicol-break}}
*[[History of measurement]]
*[[Metrication]]
*[[United States customary units]]
*[[Unit of measurement]]
{{multicol-end}}

{{systems of measurement}}

== References ==
<references/>
*Appendices B and C of [http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/230/235/h442003.htm NIST Handbook 44]
*Barry N. Taylor's [http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP811/ NIST Special Publication 811], also available as [http://physics.nist.gov/Document/sp811.pdf a PDF file]
*6 George IV chapter 12, 1825 (statute)

== External links ==
*[http://www.bwmaonline.com/ British Weights And Measures Association]
*[http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowFullDoc/cs/W-6///en Canada Weights and Measures Act 1970-71-72]
*[http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/Publications/upload/h4402_appenc.pdf General table of units of measure - NIST - pdf]
*[http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/ How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imperial Units}}
[[Category:Customary units of measure]]
[[Category:Imperial units|*]]
[[Category:Systems of units]]

[[ast:Sistema Anglosaxón d'Unidaes]]
[[be-x-old:Ангельская сыстэма мер]]
[[bg:Имперска единица]]
[[cs:Imperiální jednotka]]
[[cy:Unedau imperial]]
[[de:Angloamerikanisches Maßsystem]]
[[es:Sistema Anglosajón de Unidades]]
[[fr:Unités de mesure anglo-saxonnes]]
[[ko:야드파운드법]]
[[hr:Imperijalni sustav mjera]]
[[it:Sistema imperiale britannico]]
[[he:מערכת היחידות הבריטית]]
[[ms:Sistem Imperial]]
[[nl:Brits-Amerikaans maatsysteem]]
[[ja:ヤード・ポンド法]]
[[pl:Anglosaski układ jednostek miar]]
[[pt:Unidade inglesa]]
[[ro:Sistemul anglo-saxon de unităţi]]
[[ru:Английская система мер]]
[[simple:Imperial unit]]
[[sk:Angloamerická sústava mier]]
[[sl:Imperialna enota]]
[[fi:Brittiläinen yksikköjärjestelmä]]
[[tr:İmparatorluk birimleri]]
[[zh:英制单位]]