Tradition in the world Navies.

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Originally Posted by jonesfam

What is the difference between a Long Ton & a Short ton?
And why?
Jonesfam

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Short Ton V Long Ton - Google Search

UK Long Ton is 2,240 lbs

in a nutshell.

US short ton is 2000 lbs.

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

So if they didn't follow the pirate rules, you could instruct them to attend a code of conduct course?[biggrin]

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Provided they left their Cutlasses & Tricorns out side.[bighmmm]

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Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
8<‐------------
The British ton is the long ton, which is 2240 pounds, and the U.S. ton is the short ton which is 2000 pounds. ... This causes the actual weight of the ton to differ between countries. To distinguish between the two tons, the smaller U.S. ton is called short, while the larger British ton is called long.
8<------------
Bit like their gallons, smaller, so they can have more of them.

Cheers

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As to why the ton (not "British ton") is 2240lbs -

A ton equals 20cwt or hundredweight. Why is a hundredweight not 100lbs?

Because a hundredweight is equal to 4q or quarters, each of 28lbs.

And why is a quarter 28lbs?

Because a quarter is equal to 2st or stones, each of 14lbs.

All these strange numbers are because over the period from about the 14th to 19th century, it became necessary to tie together a number of weight units that were in general use for different commodities, so that common standards applied.

And the abbreviation "lbs"for pounds? It is an abbreviation of "librum", Latin for "pound". And this was a Roman weight unit about the same size.

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

As to why the ton (not "British ton") is 2240lbs -

A ton equals 20cwt or hundredweight. Why is a hundredweight not 100lbs?

Because a hundredweight is equal to 4q or quarters, each of 28lbs.

And why is a quarter 28lbs?

Because a quarter is equal to 2st or stones, each of 14lbs.

All these strange numbers are because over the period from about the 14th to 19th century, it became necessary to tie together a number of weight units that were in general use for different commodities, so that common standards applied.

And the abbreviation "lbs"for pounds? It is an abbreviation of "librum", Latin for "pound". And this was a Roman weight unit about the same size.

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Collectively known as avoirdupois, oddly a French word.

In the fourteenth century, English law was written in Norman-French, and the term has stuck ever since! "Pois" from Old French "peis", weight and "avoir" French for having.

Then just to keep you on your toes, there is a tonne which is 2,205 lbs

isn't a tonne 1000kg?

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

Isn't a tonne 1000kg?

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Hi
Yep.
Cheers

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Originally Posted by austastar

Hi
Yep.
Cheers

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He's right you know.
According to Gargle, 1 Tonne = 2204.62 Lbs. So deadly close.:rulez:

Why do the worlds navies still use knots to measure speed? tradition?

it fits perfectly into the nautical mile and also into space-time continuum....which no one knew about when they decided to use knots.

it , and the nautical mile also fit mathematically beautifully into speed of light and interplanetary and universal distance calculations, which the mile and kilometre do not , but again they didn't know that.

I think I remember Dr Karl talking about this on aunty one morning.....

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

Why do the worlds navies still use knots to measure speed? tradition?

it fits perfectly into the nautical mile and also into space-time continuum....which no one knew about when they decided to use knots.

it , and the nautical mile also fit mathematically beautifully into speed of light and interplanetary and universal distance calculations, which the mile and kilometre do not , but again they didn't know that.

I think I remember Dr Karl talking about this on aunty one morning.....

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Because the earth is basicially a sphere so with 360 degrees around the equator - and north south lines of longitude and great circles - so putting aside the slight bulges in the earth etc - all lines of longitude and the equator 0 latitude have the same anglular distance - 360 degrees - each degree is then broken down to minutes - 60 to the degree - so 1 minute of arc is 1nm making 1 degree of arc 60nm.

So all based on the standard diameter of the earth - so if you travel 60 nm (or an angular distance of 1 degree) in one hour you are doing 60 knots, while there are slight errors due to bulges etc, it is close enough for government work.

Clear as mud but straight forward for the nautical and aeronautical types.[thumbsupbig]