Re: [xml-dev] What are units-of-measure? e.g., what's a "kilometer"?

[James Landrum <james.landrum@ndsu.nodak.edu>]

 All units of measure describe DIMENSIONS. If a thing exists it has 
dimensions. Dimensions are attributes of things. Attributes are 
variously given labels or names (appelations), and these are variously 
also called properties, elements, and so forth.  There are classes and 
types of dimensions, categorized according to whatever system applies.
A kilometer is a label for a unit of measure that describes a standard 
(linear) distance (a dimension); in this case the standard is the metric 
system.  A kilometer itself is not physical stuff, it is a conceptual 
thing. The rod (or other device or object) used to measure the kilometer 
is physical stuff.


Roger L. Costello wrote:

>Hi Folks,
>
>Consider this statement:
>
>  "The length of the Yangtze River is 6300 kilometers."
>
>What is a "kilometer"?
>
>1. Is kilometer a class?  Is 6300 an instance of the kilometer class?
>     kilometer class: {..., 6300, ...}
>
>2. Is kilometer a function? e.g., kilometer(Yangtze) --> 6300
>   In general: kilometer(physical object) --> number
>   "The kilometer function maps a physical object to a number."
>
>3. Is kilometer a property? e.g., a property of the Yangtze River 
>   is kilometer (this doesn't quite sound right; perhaps there's
>   another way of expressing this that is more natural?)
>
>4. Is kilometer a label?  If so, then what's a label?
>
>Or is it something else?  /Roger
>
>
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-- 
From the Desk of James E. Landrum III
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