Kaylie Harlin
C Band
January 14, 2019
Redefining the World's Measurement System
Measurements play an extraordinarily large role in our modern everyday lives. Almost every instance of technology is made possible only with the help of measurements. From the creation of a pair of scissors to a spaceship, the measurements that were established during the French Revolution are essential. The tools, materials, and everything in between are all dependant on measurements. And on November 16, 2018, countries around the world voted to make a major adjustment to the measurements that we use today.
The International System of Units (SI), also known as the Metric system, was originally created to provide people across the world with a universal system of measurements that could be used “for all times, for all people.” The idea was that since the system was based on nature, it was unchanging. The flaw was that it was dependent on physical objects, which over the course of many years do not remain unchanged. For example, the International Prototype Kilogram, or Le Grand K, has been used to calibrate the world’s unit of weight since the creation of the kilogram. But Le Grand K inevitably wears away overtime, regardless of the caution taken by those who come into contact with it. The solution took a long time to create, but on November 16, the Metric system was altered for the better. All seven base units of the SI are now defined by physical science constants, such as the speed of light. Measurements can now be made to an extremely precise degree without having to calibrate them to a physical object. At last, the world’s system of measurement can be used by everyone for “all time.”
But this monumental change to the Metric system will not be implemented until May 20th, 2019, and when it occurs, you most likely will not notice. Everyone will be impacted by the increased precision and new definitions, but the chances are that you will not notice. The only people who will be directly impacted by this change are those who manufacture the tools that we use for measurement. For the everyday SI user, however, the length of a meter will continue to be the same. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website claims with uncertainty that the new changes will benefit technology, as it has done in the past. Ideally, this will positively affect our lives in the future. The SI base units are more reliably consistent and exact.
But do these new advantages constitute a “turning point for humanity,” as asserted by NIST? Only to some extent. As defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a turning point is “a point at which significant change occurs.” A change to the Metric system has occurred, but because said measurements are almost identical to what they were before, the change will not directly impact most of humanity. So, the world’s newly defined measurement system is indeed a turning point, but it is not a monumental, humanity-impacting, life-changing adjustment. Many will never know the difference.
Nonetheless, the redefined Metric system is still an important achievement. The accuracy and precision of our measurements will increase to a great extent and most definitely benefit humanity, however indirectly. The original goal of the metric system has been fulfilled, as it now can be used by everyone, reguardless of their location, and for the seeable future. The November 16th vote was undoubtedly the culmination of lots of hard work which successfully came together.
Works Cited:
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved December 13, 2018, from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turning%20point
C Band
January 14, 2019
Redefining the World's Measurement System
Measurements play an extraordinarily large role in our modern everyday lives. Almost every instance of technology is made possible only with the help of measurements. From the creation of a pair of scissors to a spaceship, the measurements that were established during the French Revolution are essential. The tools, materials, and everything in between are all dependant on measurements. And on November 16, 2018, countries around the world voted to make a major adjustment to the measurements that we use today.
The International System of Units (SI), also known as the Metric system, was originally created to provide people across the world with a universal system of measurements that could be used “for all times, for all people.” The idea was that since the system was based on nature, it was unchanging. The flaw was that it was dependent on physical objects, which over the course of many years do not remain unchanged. For example, the International Prototype Kilogram, or Le Grand K, has been used to calibrate the world’s unit of weight since the creation of the kilogram. But Le Grand K inevitably wears away overtime, regardless of the caution taken by those who come into contact with it. The solution took a long time to create, but on November 16, the Metric system was altered for the better. All seven base units of the SI are now defined by physical science constants, such as the speed of light. Measurements can now be made to an extremely precise degree without having to calibrate them to a physical object. At last, the world’s system of measurement can be used by everyone for “all time.”
But this monumental change to the Metric system will not be implemented until May 20th, 2019, and when it occurs, you most likely will not notice. Everyone will be impacted by the increased precision and new definitions, but the chances are that you will not notice. The only people who will be directly impacted by this change are those who manufacture the tools that we use for measurement. For the everyday SI user, however, the length of a meter will continue to be the same. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website claims with uncertainty that the new changes will benefit technology, as it has done in the past. Ideally, this will positively affect our lives in the future. The SI base units are more reliably consistent and exact.
But do these new advantages constitute a “turning point for humanity,” as asserted by NIST? Only to some extent. As defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a turning point is “a point at which significant change occurs.” A change to the Metric system has occurred, but because said measurements are almost identical to what they were before, the change will not directly impact most of humanity. So, the world’s newly defined measurement system is indeed a turning point, but it is not a monumental, humanity-impacting, life-changing adjustment. Many will never know the difference.
Nonetheless, the redefined Metric system is still an important achievement. The accuracy and precision of our measurements will increase to a great extent and most definitely benefit humanity, however indirectly. The original goal of the metric system has been fulfilled, as it now can be used by everyone, reguardless of their location, and for the seeable future. The November 16th vote was undoubtedly the culmination of lots of hard work which successfully came together.
Works Cited:
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved December 13, 2018, from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turning%20point
