Brett Robson wrote:

> >
> >The last I heard, the Avoirdupois pound was defined as being the weight of
> >27.7015 cubic inches of distilled water at 62 degrees F with the barometer
> >being at 30 inches.
> 
> 1. avoirdupois pound is not an imperial pound

You're right here.  Congratulations.  Don't let it go to your head
though....

> 2. your definition is pound-force not pound

A pound force is a pound.  So what are you talking about?

> 3. your definition is /less/ accurate than using a standard object
>    (perhaps this would be an interesting homework project for you. Discuss a
> practical way of maintaining as constant the 3 variables, volume, temp, and
> atmospheric
>     pressure. Be sure to mention the effect of measurement on values)

Umm, why couldn't you use any number of commercially available devices
to maintain the desired temperature, volume, and pressure?

> 3. how can a measurement system define something without any outside references?

I don't know.  You tell me.  If you could include why it is relevant to
this discussion, that would be good too.
 
> if you don't understand any of the above please refer to an introductory physics
> text.

Could you let me know which introductory physics text you referenced
before writing your post?

-- 
Curt Fischer