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Re: [uom-ontology-std] Scale and other mathematical structure

To: uom-ontology-std <uom-ontology-std@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Joe Collins <joseph.collins@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:52:49 -0400
Message-id: <4A8428C1.8050908@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Dear Ingvar,    (01)

I, however, do not advocate a theory different from the SI.
I have no problem with the Quantity Dimension "one" (or "dimensionless").    (02)

The quantity "angle" is physically measurable, has the natural unit radian, and 
is naturally dimensionless. There's nothing unnatural about the so-called 
dimensionless Quantity Dimension.    (03)

Multiplication and division are well defined arithmetic operations and their 
application to the physical theory of units and quantities in the SI is 
consistent with their usual mathematical meaning. I see no reason to make a 
distinction if there is no substantive difference. What new mathematics is 
required to re-define multiplication and division? It is true that the theory 
of 
units and quantities is a "physical theory" which is distinct from a 
mathematical theory. Were it to fail as a theory, it would only mean that we 
would have to apply a different formalism. Pragmatically, I find this unlikely.    (04)

Are you proposing that your theory be incorporated in an UoM ontology in 
preference to the long-standing, internationally agreed upon SI?    (05)

Regards,
Joe C.
ingvar_johansson wrote:
> Joe Collins wrote:
> 
>> There is an inherent mathematical structure to the SI units and dimensions
>> beyond scale which are defined in the SI.
>>
>> The Base Quantities, length, mass, time, electric current, temperature,
>> amount
>> of substance, and luminous intensity, whose dimensions, L, M, T, I, Θ, N,
>> J,
>> form a generating set, using the operations of multiplication and
>> multiplicative
>> inverse, for the Quantity Dimensions.
> 
> In my paper "Two Changes in the International System of Units?", which I
> mentioned in my former mail, I argue that it is important not to conflate
> *metrological* multiplication and division of dimensions with
> *arithmetical* multiplication and division. If one does, one ends up in
> proposing (as VIM and the SI system do) the dimension 'dimension one'.
> 
> Ingvar
-- 
_______________________________
Joseph B. Collins, Ph.D.
Code 5583, Adv. Info. Tech.
Naval Research Laboratory
Washington, DC 20375
(202) 404-7041
(202) 767-1122 (fax)
B34, R221C
_______________________________    (06)

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