Metric and Imperial systems the main difference are that metric units are based on 10, 100, 1,000, 1/10, or 1/100. Imperial measurements began with 1/2s, 1/4s and 1/8s. However, there are some outliers such as 12 inches per foot.
We will do a detailed comparison of the imperial and metric measurement systems, or, as some people say with justification, Metric vs English system.
In the United States, we mostly use the imperial system of measurement while the majority of the rest uses the metric system. However, metric measurements are increasingly common in scientific applications, recipes, and food labels. This increased usage requires the ability to convert between both systems.
What is the Metric System of measurement?
The metric system is used in almost all countries.
What is the origin of the metric system?
After the French Revolution (1789-1793), the French introduced us to the metric system. The French wanted to get rid of everything related to monarchy. The French people didn’t stop at removing the heads of the kings and queens. They also threw away the old system and replaced it with the metric system, which is based on decimals and 10s. By 1795, metric measurements were standardized across Europe.
What is the working of the metric system?
The kilogram is used for mass and the meter for measurement. The units are 10, 100, 1,000, 1/10 1/100 1/1000. This makes it easy to divide!
Common Metric Measurements
The list is short, because conversions between the metric and imperial systems are simple!
- One kilogram is 1000 grams.
- One gram is 1000 milligrams
- One liter is 1000 milliliters
- One kilometer is 1000 meters.
What is the Imperial system?
The USA remained steadfast and is one of only three countries that use imperial measures. Myanmar and Liberia are the other two.
What is the origin of the imperial system?
Can anything make any less sense? How many feet are there in a mile of 5,280? Who would have thought that up? The Roman Army. The Latin word “mille pasus” means 1,000 paces. A mile is the distance a Roman soldier would have marched if he had 1,000 paces. A foot was measured by his sandaled feet.
What is the system of imperialism?
Imperial measurements are based on 1/2s and 1/4s. However, there are some outliers such as 12 inches per foot. It’s an old system, but it makes sense when you think about it. In ancient Rome, everything was measured by 1/2s, 1/4s and 1/8s. It may seem strange to us today, as decimal-based metric measurements are so easy, but 1/4 of a gallon was a common measurement in ancient Rome. A quart was easily measured. Divide a container in half and then again by half to get a 1/4. It was a simple and accurate way to measure everything.
What is the difference between the British and American imperial systems?
The United Kingdom uses old measurements because it is convenient for them. British beer is still measured in pints. However, the pint in Britain is 20 oz, compared to 16 oz in the US. They also like to measure their weights in stones. A stone being 14 lbs. As we have shown in our conversions, a Canadian or UK Imperial Gallon will be 20% larger than a US gallon.
Common Imperial Measurements
The imperial system is more difficult to convert quickly than the metric system. Some common imperial conversions for volume measurements are:
- Three teaspoons equals one tablespoon
- 16 tablespoons per cup
- Two cups in one pint
- Two pints equal one quart
- Four cups in one quart
- 16 cups per gallon
It’s also handy to know how to convert imperial volume to imperial weight.
- 8 ounces per cup
- 16 ounces is 1 pint
- 32 ounces per quart
- 1 Gallon = 128 Ounces
What is the difference between Imperial and Metric systems?
Both the metric and imperial systems are systems of measurements. They are not one unit, but a system of interrelated units that includes many different measurements, such as length, area, mass, force, energy and power, time, temperature and luminosity.
The two systems differ in nearly all the units (meters, feet, kilograms, pounds, etc.). They do share the units for measuring time (seconds minutes and hours) as well as electricity (volts amperes watts ohms etc.). The time system is not decimalized, and the electricity system is more recent than either Metric or Imperial.
Conversion Charts for Metric and Imperial
It can be difficult to remember the metric to imperial converters. This chart contains the most important metric to imperial conversions that you will need when cooking.