Decimal Degrees Versus Minutes, Seconds

Decimal Degrees Versus Minutes, Seconds When you hear about metric measurements, usually you are bombarded with terms denoting length, height or volume, depending on your industry. Outside of formal schooling, you almost never hear about the geographical side of measurement - specifically, those ever-present invisible lines of latitude and longitude. This article will explore how some metrics are shown in geographical terms, who uses traditional Degrees/Minutes/Seconds, and what the future may hold.   A Brief History of U.S. Metrics Originating in France in the 1790s, the metric system (officially known as SI, short for Le Systeme International dUnites) grew in popularity due to increasing global commerce. Through trade with Europe, the U.S. awareness of metrics trickled into existence, eventually prompting Congress to permit its use in 1866. It was legal but voluntary. The first official legislation concerning metric conversion was passed by Congress in 1974, adding metrics to our elementary and secondary education curriculum. One year later (in 1975), Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, declaring that the U.S. federal government should use metrics as its preferred measurement system, as evidenced by a box sitting in my cubicle whose labeling instructions tell of letters that must be 3.81cm (1.5 inches) high. The nutritional information on any package of food is also a good example, showing grams (instead of ounces) of fat, carbs, vitamins, etc. Ever since its beginnings, the U.S. government has striven to promote and stabilize metrication, with limited results: mostly those in the sciences, military, engineering, manufacturing and other technical fields use the metric system. The general public, however, continues to show comparatively overwhelming disinterest in adopting grams, litres, and meters over the traditional ounces, quarts, and feet. The United States is the only remaining industrialized country whose general population does not use metrics as its primary measurement system. Metrics and Geography Despite the average American laypersons apathy for metrics, those of us who use geographic coordinates on a daily basis see plenty of evidence that decimals are out in full force. On any given day Ill see a few handfuls of engineering site surveys (and sometimes other data) come across my desk, 98% of which have a decimal somewhere in the latitude or longitude. As technology has developed over the years, allowing more accurate measurements, the number of ways that we geography people get to read those coordinates has increased. The three most popular types of Lat/Lon displays are: Traditional degrees/minutes/seconds (D/M/S), usually with decimal secondsDegrees with decimal minutes, no secondsDecimal degrees, no minutes, no seconds Doing the Math No matter how you choose to display them, any converted coordinates will get you to the same point, basically - its simply a matter of preference. If you are one of those people who grew up learning only D/M/S like me, you might break into a cold sweat the first time you see the second or third decimal variations (bulleted above), if only from the memory of your high school algebra classes. But fear not, for there are a boatload of conversion programs and websites that will do the math for you. A majority of these sites convert between D/M/S and decimal degrees, leaving out the less popular but still available decimal minutes. There are other sites for those who dont mind/enjoy algebra, or who are naturally intrepid souls and simply wish to brave the longhand algebraic equations. If you are ready to break out the Texas Instruments calculator and go for it, you might try the Montana Natural Resource Information System, which shows conversion equation examples, but also has an automatic converter.   Finally Rubbing Off? Within the past few years, more and more Americans seem to be warming up to the concept and have begun using decimals in their everyday lives. Certainly, the growing number of metric labels on many foods, drinks, health care, cleaners and other various products are clear indicators that the average American consumer should probably start learning to accept decimal numbers. This goes for geography as well. GPS unit sales to the nonmilitary population are on the rise and most (if not all) GPS units display a location using decimals. One can expect hiking, boating, driving, or any other type of navigational information to be in this same format, no matter the scale, map projection, or elevation. As the rest of the world moves forward with metric standards, the United States government will most likely feel more pressure (especially from Europe) to go totally metric for global trading purposes. Once the population finally accepts that change is coming, decimal numbers will be even more abundant and it will filter down through every aspect of American industry. Don't Panic For those hikers, boaters, drivers, orienteering students, land surveyors and others who may be used to using only D/M/S, dont worry. The conversions are out there, and its easier than you think to get results from them. Latitude and longitude lines certainly arent going anywhere - well always have those to rely on - so for now, get ready and warm up that calculator! Len Morse earned a B.S. in Geography from Towson State University and has been with the FAA for approximately 14.61 years.

Granny Gets Canned Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Granny Gets Canned - Assignment Example Additionally, the acts also make it illegal to harass employees on the basis of their age. This can include offensive remarks in relation to their age. The employer of Susan makes offensive remarks as regards Susan’s age when she fires her. It is improper to fire an individual without sufficient notice; hence the aggrieved party has a right to legal redress. The employer is required to have sufficient reasons to fire an employee summarily. Susan therefore has the right to sue for wrongful termination of her employment on the basis of age. Whatever the reason that an employer may have for terminating an employee, proper procedures should be followed to mitigate against wrongful dismissal law suits. The employer of Susan should have followed the right procedures if aggrieved with the performance of Susan. Proper procedures include documentation of the problem, following to the book rules and

Criminal Law-Offences against the person (LLB) Essay

Criminal Law-Offences against the person (LLB) - Essay Example America has enacted specific laws to criminalise the activity of those that spread the disease, whilst the UK relies on existing laws to prefer charges. At present within the UK those deliberately or recklessly infecting others in the manner described above are likely to find themselves charged with offences covered by the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. To date those who have been found guilty have been convicted under s20 of this Act. Under this section the charge preferred is one of recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. The cases of R v Konzani1 and R v Dica2 are examples where the courts applied section 2 of the OAPA where the defendants recklessly infected others with HIV. When deliberating on what charges can be brought against those who infect others with HIV the courts will look for proof that the person is aware of their condition that they know the risk of transmission, and they are aware that it passes through sex. People in these circumstances have been found guilty of recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. In the case of Dica the court of appeal accepted a submission from the defence that the infected person had consented to the risk of transmission overruling the previous decision of the court where Dica had been found guilty of infecting the injured party. The case of Konzani followed a similar line on consent with the Court of Appeal clarifying how consent should be determined3. In this case, the court of appeal stated that they would only accept that the injured party had consented to the risk, if the defendant can prove that the injured party had been fully informed of their condition, and had made a conscious decision based on that knowledge. Agreeing to unprotected sex could not be viewed as consent to the risk of contracting HIV. The current guidelines on charges that can be brought against

Certain chemicals Essay Example for Free

Certain chemicals Essay If the process of plate tectonics were to completely stop then the ability of the Earth to create mountains through the collisions of two different plates would stop as well. This would mean that erosion would eventually abrade these mountains and the amount of sediment created by this activity would eventually reach the numerous oceans and seas. The end result would be a rise in sea level that would eventually swallow up the entire land mass of the Earth and sort of global ocean would be created as a result (Life in the universe 2001). This would of course mean the extinction of all the land based species on the surface of the planet. B. ) Weathering helps initiate the erosion of rocks, topsoil or other exposed surfaces of the Earth through either changes in the climate or weather conditions while erosion on the other hands deals in the transport of small rocky material after weathering has broken it down (Boardsman 2002). These two processes help to release valuable minerals in the soil which can be carried off to the sea to nourish it or to create land suitable for plant life (Boardsman 2002). Not only that but it is these two processes that help to regulate the landmass on the planet brought about by plate tectonics which creates new land masse. If erosions and weathering stopped the seas and oceans would not be able to get the valuable nutrients they need to support life and the surface of the Earth would be filled with massive mountains that would make it hard to live on. 2. Evaluate the following statements: A. We should not get worried about exposure to toxic chemicals because almost any chemical at a high dosage can cause harm. This statement is false. Certain chemicals at even low dosages can be fatal to human beings. For example if ingested even in tiny drops arsenic is fatal to most people and can cause an extremely painful death within hours (Gilbere 2008). Another example is sulfuric acid which can kill a person if splashed on the wrong area of the body. There is actually a wide variety of chemicals in the world today that dont rely on volume to kill as such a person should take caution when they handle, are near to or have been splashed by any sort of chemical (Gilbere 2008). B. We should not worry about exposure to UV light and toxic chemicals because though genetic adaptation, we can develop immunity to such chemicals/UV light. Genetic adaptation takes millions of years to accomplish as such overexposure today for a person without proper protection can lead to skin cancer, a variety of skin diseases, a bad sunburn, heat stroke or a variety of other maladies that affect a persons health (Guhl 2005). As such the present generation or even the next 10 generations would not be able to benefit from any developments in genetic adaptation due to the time evolve. Due to this people should be wary of their exposure to UV light and must take precautions in order not develop any skin related problems. C. We should not worry about exposure to toxic chemicals because we can use genetic engineering to reduce our susceptibility to the effects of toxic chemicals. Genetic engineering can only do so much when it comes to developing resistance to certain types of chemicals. Not only that since the process would take an incredibly long period of time due to the current level of technology but the present generation or even the one after that would not be able to benefit from it. Genetic engineering can only do so much to build up a natural resistance to an artificial substance for example strong acids can even melt rock imagine what it could do to flesh no matter how genetically improved it may be. Artificial substances and natural substances by their very nature are polar opposites as such there will always be an artificial substance that can harm a natural one no matter the level of improvement it has undergone (Gilbere 2008). Part 2: 1. Which is a better choice at the grocery store: paper bag? Plastic bag? Or tissue bag? Explain your answer None of the choices given are better choices. Paper, plastic or even tissue bags still represent the use of materials that will eventually fill up landfills and cause pollution. Paper bags are sources from trees as such their use and production means that trees which could have absorbed the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or provided support for loose top soil to prevent landslides are instead used to hold groceries. Not only that but paper bags are easily destroyed through either physical force or liquid substances. As such their reusability is rather unreliable under the best of circumstances. One recurring myth is that recycled paper bags actually help the environment unfortunately this is not true as it may seem. The trucks used to transport paper to the recycling centers, the chemicals used to remove the respective dyes from the paper as well as to sanitize it combined with the process of boiling, processing and drying actually uses up more resources and leaves a larger carbon and chemical footprint than processing an average tree into paper. Plastic bags on the other hand are more durable than paper bags and are easily reused for other purposes such as trash bags, holders or covers unfortunately though in the end they are still thrown away and unlike their paper counterparts do not break down in the environment as easily and when it comes to recycling also uses up more resources to produce than the average plastic bag. Tissue bags on the other hand are just as easily destroyed as paper bags and are just as expensive to recycle. The best choice would be to bring a cloth bag. The are sold or even given away for free at most department stores, they can be used for several years at a time and not only that they are more easily broken down in the environment as compared to plastic bags. 2. Explain how fossil fuels are formed? Fossil fuels are formed when organisms such as algae zooplankton, phytoplankton as well other organisms die settle on the sea floor. Overtime when clusters of these organisms are covered by sand and silt and the conditions are just right their organic structure starts to break down after several million years the end result is a dark liquid material that is processed by refineries and turned into modern day gasoline. The reason its called fossil fuels is due to the fact that a fossil, by definition, is the remains of a dead organism and that is what fossil fuels are. 3. Is it ever possible to be completely healthy? While it is possible through a healthy diet and adequate exercise to attain a healthy body for an extended period of time there are setbacks that happen that prevent people from being completely healthy. For example a person who tried his/ her best to be healthy through dieting or exercise can never prevent his/herself from contracting a disease, virus, sickness etc. No matter who the person is they will get sick several times over the course of their life and as such can never be classified as completely healthy (Brian 2009). 4. Can we design buildings or houses that save energy? Explain your answer Yes buildings that can save energy can be designed to saved energy can be made and are actually in existence. A lot of houses these days have an insulating material installed in-between the outer and inner wall of the house. When winter comes along this insulating material helps to keep heat in and cold out thus saving on heating bills. Another example is the use of solar panels on the roofs of houses. These days the use of solar energy panels has been advertised as a means to save electricity and to even make money off of since any excess energy produced can be sent into the local power grid and the homeowners of the solar powered house can make money off of the power company while saving energy at the same time (Flin 2006). List of References Life in the Universe. (2001). Platetectonics. Retrieved on May 19, 2010 from http://www. lifeinuniverse. org/Platetectonics-05-02-01. html Gilbere, Gloria. TOTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT Requires Conscious LivingNot Getting-by on Auto-pilot. Total Health 30. 2 (2008): 48-50 Flin, David. Hot shots [solar powered home]. Power Engineer 20. 3 (2006): 16-19. Brian, Sarah Jane. making a of difference. Scholastic Parent Child 16. 7 (2009): 38-42. Guhl, Sven, et al. Bivalent Effect of UV Light on Human Skin Mast Cells—Low-Level Mediator Release at Baseline but Potent Suppression Upon Mast Cell Triggering. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 124. 2 (2005): 453-456 Boardman, John. The need for soil conservation in Britain – revisited. Area 34. 4 (2002): 419-427.

civics- the constitution :: essays research papers

PART ONE- the definitions are done on the notebook along with the matching and multiple choice. SHORT ANSWER 2. A. A democracy is a form of government where the people govern themselves. A republic is a form of government where the people elect officials to make their decisions for them. A democratic republic is a form of government where the people elect officials to represent them in the affairs of the government. B. The united states government is a democratic republic. 3. A. Abraham Lincoln was describing the fact that without the consent of the people there would be no government. B. Lincoln was referring to the constitution. 4. 1. Being well informed of what our government is doing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. Voting in all elections   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.writing letters to our representatives expressing our views and opinions   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4. By lobbying when and if it is an option.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5. Taking legal action against a law that we may feel is unconstitutional   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6. By signing petitions in support of or against some actions taken by elected officials. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1. There was no central power   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. There was no executive   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3. There was no judicial system 6.exclusive federal power are those powers belonging only to the federal government. Concurrent powers are those belonging to both the state and federal governments. Denied powers are those powers that are forbidden from any government. 7. The problem was solves by dividing the powers of government. 8. Ratifying the constitution meant that nine of the thirteen states had to accept it. 9. One opposing side was called the federalists. The other opposing side was called the anti-federalists. PART TWO definitions 1. Preamble- the introduction to the constitution 2. Union- the bringing together of two or more groups to form one. 3. Welfare- the general well-being of a people 4. Posterity- those that come after us. 5. Register- to sign you name among those qualified for voting. 6. Congressional district- the section of state that is represented by one member of the house. 7. Census- the counting of people of any given area 8. Caucus- the meeting of leaders of a political party held for some special purpose 9. Impeachment- the act of accusing a political figure of some wrong doing. 10. Quorum- The amount of members of a group required to be present to complete their business. MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. C 2. A 3. B 4. A 5. D 6. A 7. B 8. D 9. B 10. A SHORT ANSWER 1. The constitution was written in it’s final form by Gouverneur Morris. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1. In order to form a more perfect union- I think this means in order to bring the people of our nation closer together and to make the government more stable and smoother running.

Cellphones are not necessary in teenagers’ lives Essay

No, cellphones are not necessary in teenagers’ lives. I admit this because I think cellphones ruin teenagers’ social life. First of all, teens like to use their cellphones to text. Something that is wrong about this is that these teenagers only will talk over text but, never face to face. Besides texting on their phone, they also like to go on social networks such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. Other teens that use these social networks can start rumors about you that may or may not be true. This can lead to people talking behind your back at school and not having any friends that want to talk to you. Furthermore, teenagers having a cellphone can stop them from going out as much. The advantage of going out with yours friends is to socialize and have fun. There would be no point to going out if you have a cellphone because you can just call each other or talk online. These are a few examples of how having a cellphone can ruin a teenagers’ social life. As a teenager having a cellphone distracts me on a daily basis. For instance, when having a conversation with someone it makes it hard for me to concentrate to what the person in front of me is saying when an incoming message is sent. Also, having a cellphone beside you while doing your homework is not a great idea. While doing your homework you can randomly get a text message or a notification which makes it hard to focus on your work and easy to get distracted by your phone. So instead of doing your homework you will probably be playing a game on your phone. In addition to getting distracted while doing homework, teenagers also get distracted while doing their chores. This can lead them to not getting their chores done and later on getting in trouble by their parents. In brief, being a teenager and having a cellphone distracts me in many ways and most likely distracts other teenagers as well. Finally, having a cellphone when you are a teenager lacks productivity. Teenagers sit somewhere for hours doing nothing that is important. For example, you go on your phone and check your Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram over and over again. Also, teenagers get so attached to their phone that they forget about their homework and the next day try to come up with excuses on why it is not done. Teenagers should go outside and breathe the fresh air but when you are on your phone you manage to sit around for hours which is not very healthy for your body.

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