Millie Howard
AChem Lurain
E Band
January 14, 2019
Redefining the World's Measurement System
When the SI (the metric system) was established and named the international metric for measurement, it was based off of the French concept that humans should use unchanging properties of nature to make measurements. The mantra of this French system was “for all times, for all people.” It was designed with the goal of being a consistent, reliable way to make measurements that could be done essentially anywhere. This ended up being a large part of why it was appealing to so many people. It was a universal system that used numbers derived from unchanging principles. The concept of it being derived in nature greatly increases the practicality of the system because it becomes constant, and therefore more reliable, as well as universal, and consequently better for globalization and communication.
Though this was the goal of the system, until the recent vote a number of the SI base units were still based off of specific items. Because of this, the platinum-iridium metal piece that determines the magnitude of the Kilogram has to be periodically calibrated to what is called Le Grand K. In addition, with time and exposure, the mass of Le Grand K is slowly decreasing as it is worn down. Because the amount that it is changing is so small, one might think it is insignificant. However, when measuring in particularly large or particularly small quantities, even the most minute difference can change results. The recent vote switched the remaining object-based units to be derived from unchanging (to our knowledge) figments of nature, such as the speed of light. This means that measurements can be done by truly anybody and measurement tools will no longer need to be calibrated to an object.
The reason that this seemingly minor change is so incredibly impactful is that it separates the measurement from any object and immortalizes it. This means that the value of the Kilogram is constant and that it is independent of any place or time. The institution of natural and unchanging definitions for all seven base units of the SI means that the system is in no way reliant on any objects. Not only can scientists finally retire the calibration process, we also no longer have to use relatively arbitrary values to calculate more complex equations and concepts. This allows more accurate and precise measurements. It also provides a much clearer way of communicating measurements because they are now conceptually derived! So, all one needs to measure the mass of an item is (a tool that has) sufficient information about how to calculate a Kilogram; a scale that’s been matched to a hunk of metal across the ocean is no longer in the picture.
One thing that we don’t think about often but is incredibly integral to the way we experience our lives is the precision of technology. From subway trains to microwaves to cameras, the highly capable technology we utilize on a daily basis uses incredibly precise hardware, much of which is done in SI units. So, this drastic change will impact the development of technology and improve the consistency in its production. It will provide a way to much more precisely measure things and in turn give the scientific community a better platform on which we can base our research.
Works Cited
Marantz, A. (2014, June 13). ≤ kg [Audio blog post]. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/kg
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
AChem Lurain
E Band
January 14, 2019
Redefining the World's Measurement System
When the SI (the metric system) was established and named the international metric for measurement, it was based off of the French concept that humans should use unchanging properties of nature to make measurements. The mantra of this French system was “for all times, for all people.” It was designed with the goal of being a consistent, reliable way to make measurements that could be done essentially anywhere. This ended up being a large part of why it was appealing to so many people. It was a universal system that used numbers derived from unchanging principles. The concept of it being derived in nature greatly increases the practicality of the system because it becomes constant, and therefore more reliable, as well as universal, and consequently better for globalization and communication.
Though this was the goal of the system, until the recent vote a number of the SI base units were still based off of specific items. Because of this, the platinum-iridium metal piece that determines the magnitude of the Kilogram has to be periodically calibrated to what is called Le Grand K. In addition, with time and exposure, the mass of Le Grand K is slowly decreasing as it is worn down. Because the amount that it is changing is so small, one might think it is insignificant. However, when measuring in particularly large or particularly small quantities, even the most minute difference can change results. The recent vote switched the remaining object-based units to be derived from unchanging (to our knowledge) figments of nature, such as the speed of light. This means that measurements can be done by truly anybody and measurement tools will no longer need to be calibrated to an object.
The reason that this seemingly minor change is so incredibly impactful is that it separates the measurement from any object and immortalizes it. This means that the value of the Kilogram is constant and that it is independent of any place or time. The institution of natural and unchanging definitions for all seven base units of the SI means that the system is in no way reliant on any objects. Not only can scientists finally retire the calibration process, we also no longer have to use relatively arbitrary values to calculate more complex equations and concepts. This allows more accurate and precise measurements. It also provides a much clearer way of communicating measurements because they are now conceptually derived! So, all one needs to measure the mass of an item is (a tool that has) sufficient information about how to calculate a Kilogram; a scale that’s been matched to a hunk of metal across the ocean is no longer in the picture.
One thing that we don’t think about often but is incredibly integral to the way we experience our lives is the precision of technology. From subway trains to microwaves to cameras, the highly capable technology we utilize on a daily basis uses incredibly precise hardware, much of which is done in SI units. So, this drastic change will impact the development of technology and improve the consistency in its production. It will provide a way to much more precisely measure things and in turn give the scientific community a better platform on which we can base our research.
Works Cited
Marantz, A. (2014, June 13). ≤ kg [Audio blog post]. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/kg
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
