0000,0000,0000> Sean ... it's worse than that ... since ne
ither the joule not the
> coulomb are among the seven SI based units, this is how they do it:
> V = (m^2)(kg)(s^-3)(A^-1)
>
> So we "should" say, "a 5(m^2)(kg)(s^-3)(A^-1) battery",
NO NO NO!
NOBODY is saying we shouldn't use the derived units of the SI.
That is NOT what NIST says!
The Volt is an accepted derived unit. So is a Farad.
You are encouraged not to use the cgs system and some other
traditional sets of derived units in favor of the standard units, either
derived or base units.
For many types of problems, if you need to manipulate quantities
that are in the standard units, the fact that they are defined in terms
of the base units (no multipliers) actually helps. For example, one
Pascal applied to a 1 m^2 area applies a total force of 1 Newton.
However, the reason that people won't give up all the odd unit
systems is because of what Sean pointed out: That the units come
out even for certain types of problems. But is easy for him to take
the answer he gets in cgs, and convert to standard mks, at least
they are metric. Try that in nautical miles, lbs force, and seconds.
you have to be a rocket scientist to get the conversions right.
Sometimes even THEY don't. <
-Barry.