BS: US pints

Subject: BS: US pints
From: Torctgyd
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 06:18 AM

Prompted by the discussion about the price of gas.

How come the US has the same pounds and ounces (imperial weights) as the UK but has different sized pints and gallons? Are US fluid ounces the same as UK fluid ounces?

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Splott Man
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 06:40 AM

US pint is 16 fl ozs
UK pint is 20 fl ozs

dunno why though

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: gnu
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 06:46 AM

US gallon = 3.785 l    Imp gallon = 4.546 l

The question is, why is the US behind the rest of the world on this one?

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 07:12 AM

From answers .com

The Imperial pint is defined in terms of the gallon, which was originally defined as the volume of eight pounds of wheat. Other versions of the gallon were defined for different commodities, and there were equally many versions of the pint.

America adopted the British wine gallon (defined in 1707 as 231 cubic inches) as its basic liquid measure, from which the US wet pint is derived, and the British corn gallon (1/8 of a standard "Winchester" bushel of corn, or 268.8 cubic inches) as its dry measure, from which the US dry pint is derived.

In 1824 the British parliament replaced all its variant gallons with a new "imperial" gallon based on ten pounds of distilled water at 62 °F (277.42 cubic inches), from which the UK pint is derived.

The UK pint is officially defined as 0.56826125 litres precisely in The Units of Measurement Regulations 1995 (http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951804_en_2.htm).

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 07:48 AM

Because we have to have SOMETHING that is bigger than the in the USA...

:D

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:07 AM

... other than manufacture packets of small condoms marked 'Extra Large'....

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:08 AM

UK gallon equals 10 pounds
US pint equals 1 pound

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:09 AM

Which is heavier, a pound of feathers, or a pound of gold?

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: MudGuard
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:10 AM

The question is, why is the US behind the rest of the world on this one?

Because the US like the UK refuse to use the metric system ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Paul Burke
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:29 AM

The Americans say "A pint's a pound, the world around", which is typical American cultural imperialism, and false for anything but water.

The British say "A pint of water weighs a pound and a quarter", which is accurate and appropriately reticent.

And try working out anything serious other than in metric units.

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Janie
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:58 AM

My understanding is that USA weight and measurement standards are based on water. 1 cubic or fluid ounce of water weighs 1 ounce. A pint (16 oz.) of water weighs 1 pound (16 oz.) A fluid ounce of honey would weigh more than one ounce. A cubic ounce of feathers would weigh less than one ounce.

J

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: R. Padgett
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 09:24 AM

Lost me and I teach numeracy

We are now in the metric system except for pints of beer and milk any others

Double running on litres 1 ltr = 1.75 pints approx
8 Uk pints to the gallon

Inches 2.54cms = 1inch, 1 foot = 31cms approx (1ft = 12")

metres; 1 metre = 39 inch approx, 1 yard = 36 inches

kilometre 1 km = 0.62 of 1 mile

1 kilogramme/kg/kilo = 2.205 llbs

So which is larger half a litre or a US pint?

Dont ask me I lost the plot!!

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: PoohBear
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 09:37 AM

And I thought you were talking about beer. . . I know it's early, but I could sure go for a pint of Rogue's Shakespere Stout!

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Paul Burke
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 09:39 AM

A litre is about 95% of a US quart.

A quick way to convert UK gallons to litres:

Divide gallons by 5.
Add 10% to the result.

The answer is accurate to about 0.2%.

The reverse is harder: litres times 50 then divide by 11.

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 09:43 AM

Boy, I'm sure glad my local sells its beer in 20 oz mugs!

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 11:52 AM

The proper way to buy beer is in your own tankard, which should be a pint and a bit( pint and an eight minus dents is common), or like this:
Civilisation in Alaska!

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: R. Padgett
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 12:09 PM

Thanks Paul

I did know that 4.55 litres to the Uk gallon!

Still a bit lost

US 2pints = 95% x litre anybody help?
1 litre = (1.75 UK pints = 1litre)

16/20 x 1.75 = 1.4 (see Splot man above, re fluid oz)

So 1.4 US pints per litre?

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: R. Padgett
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 01:24 PM

Ah I think I went the wrong way so that,

20/16 x 1.75 US = 2.19 US pints needed to be equivalent to 1 litre as UK pints are greater than US pints OK?

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 02:54 PM

But why is a Brit "hundred weight" (cwt) = 112 pounds?

(Yeah, I know; but the explanations here should be good.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 02:58 PM

"The Americans say "A pint's a pound, the world around" "

In my 48 years as an American, I've never heard one of us say that!

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 07:52 PM

I do believe that a pound of feathers has more mass than a pound of gold.

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 07:57 PM

but the weight is the same.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:05 PM

Nope!

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:38 PM

A pound of feathers is heavier than a pound of gold, since gold is a troy weight, and the pound contains 12 ounces

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:51 PM

One liter is a tad more than one U. S. quart. The liter runs about 33. ++ ounces, the quart is 32. The half-liter is bigger by a tsp or 2 than the (U.S.)pint.
And, Mr. Olesko, I used to hear math teachers say that when I was a kid (early 1950s).          Tw

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 04:04 AM

I tried Paul's thingy and it works - but isn't it the other way round?

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: R. Padgett
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 04:11 AM

Hy Tannywheeler

2.19 US pints = 1 litre according to my calculation above assuming that 1.75 (decimal places) Uk pints = 1 litre
and using
US pint is 16 fl ozs
UK pint is 20 fl ozs see Splott man above

Ray

litre is metric value, as is metre (not liter or meter)

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Paul Burke
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 04:14 AM

You never tried my thingy!!! I'm very particular about who gets to try it, currently you're below 8th on the list.

And it ISN'T the other way round.

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 04:28 AM

I've noticed lately that sometimes when I order a pint of beer in the U.S., I get 20 ounces.
This is genuine progress, I think. I think we should all band together and insist on 20-ounce beers.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 06:44 AM

Hehehe - How do you know I haven't tried it! You might not motice if it realy was the other way round:-)

I'll try it the right way...

A quick way to convert UK gallons to litres:

Divide gallons by 5.
Add 10% to the result.

Lets go for 10 gallons for ease.

10/5 = 2 + 10% = 2.2

So 10 gallons is 2.2 litres.

I wondered why I was getting such good mileage from the Gnomemoblile!

:D

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Paul Burke
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 08:33 AM

Oh I see what you mean. Cerebral flatus. For gallons read litres and verse visa.

Yes means no, left is right, right is wrong

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: R. Padgett
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 08:41 AM

Nope probabaly wrong way round!!

4.55 litres to the gallon so 10 gallons simple way

4.55 x10 = 45.55 litres      8pints to a gallon

8/1.75 = 4.571 (4.55) rounded
(10 gallons X 4.571 = 45.71 gallons UK

Ray

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: ejsant
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 09:02 AM

Now Joe if you could get whiskey always poured without measure as well I would vote for you for president. A bold new day, 20 oz. pints and whiskey without measure. Maybe sticking around here isn't such a bad idea after all.

As for this other stuff, it requires too much thinking for my taste. Oh, and I'm with Ron. I haven't heard that statement here in the US in my 48 years either. Maybe it's a geographical (wow! that's five syllables, cool) thing.

Peace,
Ed

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 09:09 AM

A pound of feathers is heavier than a pound of gold, if we assume that feathers are measured in pounds avoirdupois and gold is measured in pounds troy.

With the same assumption, an ounce of gold is heavier than an ounce of feathers, since one troy ounce is about 1.09714 avoirdupois ounces.

The explanation that there are 16 ounces in a "feathers pound" and only 12 ounces in a "gold pound" is incomplete, since the ounces are different in the two cases; but we'll give 50% credit on this one in an elementary class (30% credit maybe in advanced classes).

An "apparently reliable" resource for this thread might be the one at Rowlett, Univ North Carolina. (Link to ounces page) He seems to have done a lot of work on odd units.

John

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 09:10 AM

Sorry Tannywheeler, I was thinking modern times. As I mentioned it is an expression that I never heard any American mention. That doesn't mean it isn't in use, but it is not a common expression.

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 10:05 AM

I often have the same problem, Paul. When someone tells me I should start with my left foot in a dance I always need to ask which left foot they mean...

Do I come here often?


:D

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Paul Burke
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 11:03 AM

There always used to be a notice in pubs saying "Spirits are sold for consumption on these premises in measures of one fifth of a gill".

I never drank spirits in pubs, never having had consumption.

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: R. Padgett
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 11:43 AM

Aww aww I feel a new dispute re definition fo a gill

but it aint owt to do wi me!
Ray

Consumption was a term used for tuberculosis!

Ray

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 08:35 PM

Well, I have heard "a pint's a pound the world around," but I don't think of it as imperialism (more like anti-imperialism, wouldn't you say?). The "world around" part is just there to make a rhyme. Rhyming sayings are easier to remember.

Anyone heard "Righty tighty, lefty loosey"? I recently learned that one from my wife. Funny, I've gotten through most of my life without knowing that one, and never had much of a problem turning things the wrong way. But lately, while working on some plumbing, I found myself saying that phrase to myself every time I put a wrench to a pipe. I just wish everything followed that rule, but it doesn't. For instance, in many (but not all) sinks, the hot and cold faucets are designed to be symmetrical, that is, one turns clockwise while the other turns counterclockwise. That's OK, you can get used to it. But then the hot and cold faucets on my shower both turn the same way. The consequences of getting confused can be quite uncomfortable.

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 08:49 PM

Regards plumbing: some people like the hot and cold taps with the cold on the right - but if you have a shower/bath which is set up so you have to lean across the hot tap to reach the cold one - that can be dangerous enough to get burnt when you turn on the hot water to get the cold out of the pipes...


"Righty tighty, lefty loosey"?

Don't ever try to fiddle with gas piping then... that usually has left hand threads...

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Torctgyd
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 05:34 AM

The cold tap is on the right as you look at it so that blind people don't have to turn on taps at random and get scalded (at least that was the explanation I was given in England). Also did you know that lifts give more dings going down than up (or vice versa) to aid blind people too!

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Torctgyd
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 05:35 AM

A gill is a quater of one pint i.e. 5 fluid ounces. Does the US use a gill at all? Is it 4 fluid ounces?

Subject: RE: BS: US pints
From: Paul Burke
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 06:10 AM

In our house, there are three HL,CR and one CL,HR.

When we were kids, our house had the taps the opposite way round from our neighbour's. We were Catholic, they C of E- we thought it went with the religion, like putting for thine is the kingdom etc. at the end of the Half Arthur.