Why is the metric system is more scientific system of measurement than the use of body parts like the palm or the hand breadth and the foot?

Answer 1

Because the basic units can be constructed in any laboratory. It is not dependent on some measurement that may change with time. The metric system is the international system of measurement. It was designed with several goals in mind. Neutral and universalAny laboratory can make a model of the base units. Starting with length, the meter was determined by the distance between two lines of latitude. This can be measured at any location on earth with the proper instruments. Once the length is established, a cube can be constructed that is 1/10 km on each edge. The volume of this cube is the liter. Everyone has access to water, so fill this cube with water and you have a kilogram of weight (at 3.98 degrees Celsius - the SI uses the Kelvin scale but both divide the difference between water's freezing and boiling points into 100 equal parts). Decimal multiples The metric system is decimal. The next larger unit is always 10 times as large, the next smaller always 1/10 as large. One need not remember 12 inches to a foot, 3 feet to a yard, are there four pints in a quart or only two, etc. To convert, simply move the decimal point. Prefixes All derived units use a common set of prefixes for each multiple. "Kilo" means 1000 whether it is used both for mass (kilogram) or length (kilometre). A few units such as the tonne (megagram) and quintal (100 kilograms) survive from old units but have been rounded to metric. The prefixes which come from the Greek language (kilo, mega, giga) are multipliers and those with Latin origins (centi, milli) are divisors.

Answer 2

It's not. The accuracy of measurements has nothing to do with the units that are

used to report the results of the measurement. The metric system is preferable

in many cases not because the measurements are any more accurate, but because

the units are much easier to work with, and convert among units of different size.

Example:

English system:

1 mile = 5,280 feet

1 foot = 12 inches.

Quick . . . How many inches in 1 mile ?

Metric system:

1 kilometer = 1,000 meters

1 meter = 100 centimeters

Quick . . . How many centimeters in 1 kilometer ?

Also, if you look at a ruler the smallest measurements are 1/32" and 0.1 cm. These to measurement are exactly the same.

If you were to use the same argument for this as for Fahrenheit and Celsius, that smaller units are more accurate. Then US standard would be more accurate with feet or yards and metric would be more accurate with centimeters and kilometers.

Making neither really as accurate as each should be.

Answer 3

The metric system is more scientific because it is based on standards that are internationally recognized and easily replicated. Using body parts for measurement can vary greatly between individuals and is not precise or standardized. The metric system provides a consistent and accurate way to measure, making it more suitable for scientific applications.