User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions

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{{see also|U.S. customary units}}
{{see also|U.S. customary units}}
The '''gallon''' (abbreviation: '''gal''') is a non-[[SI]] measurement unit of [[volume]] used in the [[U.S. customary units|U.S. customary]] and the [[Imperial units|Imperial]] systems of measurement. Historically it has had many different definitions but, as of 2010, there are only three definitions in current use.  These are the '''''U.S. liquid gallon''''' and the '''''U.S. dry gallon''''' which are used in the [[United States]] and the '''''[[Imperial gallon]]''''' which is in unofficial use within the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]] and in semi-official use within [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/W-6/sc:2//en#anchorsc:2|title=Weights and Measures Act: Canadian units of measure|publisher=Department of Justice|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>  The gallon, be it the U.S.  or Imperial gallon, is sometimes used in other [[English language|English]]-speaking countries as well.
The '''gallon''' (abbreviation: '''gal''') is a non-[[SI]] measurement unit of [[volume]] used in the [[U.S. customary units|U.S. customary]] and the [[Imperial units|Imperial]] systems of measurement. Historically it has had many different definitions but, as of 2010, there are only three definitions in current use.  These are the '''''U.S. liquid gallon''''' and the '''''U.S. dry gallon''''' which are used in the [[United States]] and the '''''Imperial gallon''''' which is in unofficial use within the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]] and in semi-official use within [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/W-6/sc:2//en#anchorsc:2|title=Weights and Measures Act: Canadian units of measure|publisher=Department of Justice|accessdate=2007-11-14}}</ref>  The gallon, be it the U.S.  or Imperial gallon, is sometimes used in other [[English language|English]]-speaking countries as well.


==Definitions and divisions==
==Definitions and divisions==
Line 24: Line 24:
:*160 fluid ounces (liquid only)
:*160 fluid ounces (liquid only)


==Usage==


This definition is used in some [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries and [[Ireland]], and is based on the volume of 10 [[pound (mass)|pound]]s of water at 62&nbsp;[[degree Fahrenheit|°F]]. (A U.S. liquid gallon of water weighs about 8.33 pounds at the same temperature.) The imperial fluid ounce is defined as {{frac|160}} of an imperial gallon.
===Countries using the U.S. liquid gallon===
On 1 January 2000, it ceased to be a legal unit of measure within the United Kingdom for economic, health, safety or administrative purposes.<ref>{{cite web
          |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951804_en_1.htm
          |title=The Units of Measurement Regulations 1995 (Article 4)
          |date=2000-09-20
          |accessdate=2009-01-28}}</ref>
In 2005 a major step in metrication i.e. kilometres and litres, was taken in Ireland, only excluding draught beer.<ref>{{cite web
          |url=http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/internat.htm
          |title=Metric usage and metrication in other countries
          |date=2009-02-13
          |accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>


== Worldwide usage of gallons ==
As of 2005, the U.S. liquid gallon continued to be used as a unit of measure for fuel in [[Colombia]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Ecuador]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Haiti]], [[Honduras]], [[Liberia]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Panama]], [[Peru]], and the [[United States]].<ref name="gas-world">[http://www.international-fuel-prices.com/downloads/FuelPrices2005.pdf International Fuel Prices 2005] See PDF page 96 of 114 PDF pages.</ref>
As of 2005 the U.S. liquid gallon continued to be used as a unit of measure for fuel in [[Colombia]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Ecuador]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Haiti]], [[Honduras]], [[Liberia]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Panama]], [[Peru]], and the [[United States]].<ref name="gas-world">{{cite web |url=http://www.international-fuel-prices.com/downloads/FuelPrices2005.pdf |title=FuelPrices2005 (see chapter 12.2: Conversion units) |accessdate=2008-06-10 |format=pdf |work= |pages=96|publisher=German Technical Cooperation}}</ref>


The Imperial gallon is used colloquially (and in advertising) in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Canada]] for the fuel economy figures, in miles per gallon (elsewhere in Europe, the effective fuel consumption is often advertised in litres per 100&nbsp;km, or km per litre). It continues to be used as a unit of measure for fuel<ref name="gas-world" /> in
===Countries using the Imperial gallon===
[[Antigua and Barbuda]],<ref
name="gas-ab2">{{cite web |url=http://www.antigua-barbuda.com/business_politics/budget_speeches/budget_speech_2001.asp |title=The High Commission Antigua and Barbuda |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=}}</ref> [[Belize]],<ref name="gas3">{{cite web
|url=http://mof.gov.bz/faqresults.asp?category=SUPPLIES+CONTROL&question=39 |title=Belize Ministry of Finance::FAQ |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work= |publisher=Belize Ministry of Finance|quote=#Kerosene per US Gallon (per Imperial gallon)#Gasoline (Regular)(per Imperial Gallon)#
Gasoline (Premium) (per Imperial Gallon)#Diesel (per Imperial Gallon)}}</ref><ref
name="gas-bz1">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Caribbean_and_Central_America/Belize/Shopping-Belize-BR-1.html |title=Belize shopping |accessdate=2008-01-15 |work= |quote=Although the Belize $ is pegged at two for every US$, they use Imperial gallons rather than the smaller US gallons (0.83 of an Imperial) when dealing with gasoline. The cheapest grade of gasoline was US$4.69/Imperial gallon}}</ref> [[Burma]] (Myanmar),<ref
name="gas-mm1">{{cite news |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DF113DF936A1575BC0A966958260 |title=500 Are Detained in Burmese Capital |accessdate=2008-01-16 |format= |work=The New York Times|quote=... the Government cut the ration of subsidized gasoline from six to four imperial gallons a week | first=Steven | last=Erlanger | date=1990-08-25}}</ref><ref
name="gas-mm2">{{cite web |url=http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:K96Q9Q58hD4J:news.corporate.findlaw.com/ap/i/626/08-22-2007/73ae00161f8c1f54.html+Burma+gasoline+imperial+gallon+price&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us&client=firefox-a|title=Fuel Hike Protest Begins in Myanmar|accessdate=2008-01-16 |author=Win, Aye Aye |date=2007-08-22 |work= |publisher=Associated Press|quote=The government, which holds a monopoly on fuel sales and subsidizes them, raised prices of fuel from $1.16 to $2.33 per imperial gallon for diesel and to $1.94 for gasoline. A canister of natural gas containing 17 gallons was raised from 39 cents to $1.94.}}</ref><ref
name="gas-mm3">{{cite web |url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8286 |title=Burma's Activists March against Fuel Price |publisher=HikeThe Irrawaddy News Magazine Online Edition Covering Burma |accessdate=2008-01-16 |format= |work=|quote=The government, which holds a monopoly on fuel sales and subsidizes them, raised prices of fuel from 1,500 kyats (US $1.16) to 3,000 kyats ($2.33) per imperial gallon for diesel and to 2,500 kyats ($1.94) for gasoline.|date=2007-08-20}}</ref> [[Cayman Islands]], [[Grenada]],<ref
name="gas-ab1">{{cite web |url=http://www.grenadavisitorforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345 |title=GRENADA VISITOR FORUM - Cost Of Living - Grocery Prices |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=|quote= }}</ref><ref name="gas7">{{cite web |url=http://agriculture.gov.gd/newsitem.aspx?nid=375 |title=The Government of Grenada - The Ministry of Agriculture |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=|quote=he price of gasoline at the pumps was fixed at EC$7.50 per imperial gallon... }}</ref> [[Guyana]], and [[Sierra Leone]].
The [[United Arab Emirates]] switched from Imperial gallons to litres on 1 January 2010.


The word has also been used as translation for several foreign units of the same magnitude.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}
As of 2000, the Imperial gallon ceased to be a legal unit of measure within the United Kingdom for economic, health, safety or administrative purposes.<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951804_en_1.htm#end Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 1804, The Units of Measurement Regulations 1995 ]</ref> However, as noted in the introduction (see above), the Imperial gallon is still in unofficial use within the United Kingdom]] and Ireland]] and in semi-official use within Canada.
 
==Subdivisions==
The gallons in current use are subdivided into eight [[pint]]s or four [[quart]]s. [[Pint]]s are further subdivided into [[fluid ounce]]s and liquid gallons are also subdivided into 32 [[gill (unit)|gills]], i.e. a quarter of a pint. The sub-units of [[pint]] and [[fluid ounce]], despite having the same name in both Imperial and U.S. units, differ in volume and are therefore not interchangeable. The principal difference is that the Imperial [[pint]] contains 20 Imperial [[fluid ounce]]s, whereas the U.S. [[pint]] contains 16 U.S. [[fluid ounces]]. A U.S. [[fluid ounce]] is approximately 4% bigger than an Imperial [[fluid ounce]] and therefore they are often used interchangeably, whereas U.S. and Imperial pints and gallons are sufficiently different that they should not be used interchangeably, although they often are.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 23:41, 5 June 2010

See also: U.S. customary units

The gallon (abbreviation: gal) is a non-SI measurement unit of volume used in the U.S. customary and the Imperial systems of measurement. Historically it has had many different definitions but, as of 2010, there are only three definitions in current use. These are the U.S. liquid gallon and the U.S. dry gallon which are used in the United States and the Imperial gallon which is in unofficial use within the United Kingdom and Ireland and in semi-official use within Canada.[1] The gallon, be it the U.S. or Imperial gallon, is sometimes used in other English-speaking countries as well.

Definitions and divisions

  • The U.S. liquid gallon is equal to 3.785412 litres which is equivalent to 231 cubic inches.[2] It is divided into:
  • 4 quarts (abbreviation: qt) or
  • 8 pints (abbreviation: pt) or
  • 32 gills (abbreviation: gi) or
  • 128 fluid ounces (abbreviation: fl oz)
  • The U.S. dry gallon is equal to 4.404884 litres which is equivalent to 268.8025 cubic inches.[2] It is divided into:
  • 4 quarts (abbreviation: dry qt)
  • 8 pints (abbreviation: dry pt)
  • The Imperial gallon is 20 % larger than the U.S. liquid gallon and is equal to 4.546092 litres which is equivalent to 277.4196 cubic inches.[2] It is divided into:
  • 4 quarts (liquid or dry) or
  • 8 pints (liquid or dry) or
  • 32 gills (liquid or dry) or
  • 160 fluid ounces (liquid only)

Usage

Countries using the U.S. liquid gallon

As of 2005, the U.S. liquid gallon continued to be used as a unit of measure for fuel in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the United States.[3]

Countries using the Imperial gallon

As of 2000, the Imperial gallon ceased to be a legal unit of measure within the United Kingdom for economic, health, safety or administrative purposes.[4] However, as noted in the introduction (see above), the Imperial gallon is still in unofficial use within the United Kingdom]] and Ireland]] and in semi-official use within Canada.

References

  1. ↑ Weights and Measures Act: Canadian units of measure. Department of Justice. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Standard Metric Practice Guide, ASTM E 380-72,June 1972 (corrected June 1973)
  3. ↑ International Fuel Prices 2005 See PDF page 96 of 114 PDF pages.
  4. ↑ Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 1804, The Units of Measurement Regulations 1995
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