Lurain Name: Calum Rizvi
AChem 18-19 Class Band: C Band
Date: 1/2/2019
Redefining the World’s Measurement System
Measurements, as explained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, are the primary factor in human kinds technological advancement throughout our years of existence. Since their original creation in 1790 following the French Revolution, the idea of standardized units was founded on the basic principle that they would be, “for all times, for all people.” Although in the years following their founding standardized units had become a universal form of communication and significantly contributed to many of the worlds greatest achievements, standardized units have only just recently fulfilled their original goal.
On November 16, 2018 a monumental shift was made in the world when the International System of Units, otherwise known as the metric system, officially changed all of our measurements definitions to be solely based off of the unchanging fundamental properties of nature, and would no longer be represented by physical objects. For years prior, the System of Units would base their measurements off of a singular reference material that was then replicated many times for the rest of the world to use. However, this still posed certain problems. The official objects of measurements could undergo wear and tear overtime. On top of that, in order to create new replicas, one had to go through quite a bit of work to get their hands on one of the already made replicas to use as a reference. This prevented the System of Units from truly achieving their goal because these units, although they were available, they weren’t available, “for all times, for all people.” However, with the unanimous vote on November 16th this was all changed. A shift to defining measurements based off of unchanging fundamental properties of nature has allowed anyone, with the right equipments, to have access to the more precise measurements without needing to find a piece calibrated to the original artifacts.
The benefits that come along with this change are plentiful. By making the base measurements depend on unchanging properties of nature, they no longer have to be represented by physical objects and can now be represented by facts. Take, for instance, the meter. What used to be represented by an official rod that all other meter’s duplicated, instead it is now represented by the distance light travels in a period of time. This change makes units more available to the public than ever before and more precise. The newest measurements are capable of being more universally similar than their previous counterparts, because they no longer have to rely on replicas that may differ slightly. They no longer have to be stored but are instead passed around as scientific facts that can be tested whenever, and wherever to create a reference for measuring tools.
Now that measurements more available than ever before the sky's the limit for the future of technological inventions and innovations. Understanding, all the progress human kind has made in the past using measurements, one can only imagine what is to come. In my future the world will have more access to the necessary tools to grow. Whenever I take any measurements in the future I can be more confident in their precision and effectiveness as a standard.
Works Cited
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
AChem 18-19 Class Band: C Band
Date: 1/2/2019
Redefining the World’s Measurement System
Measurements, as explained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, are the primary factor in human kinds technological advancement throughout our years of existence. Since their original creation in 1790 following the French Revolution, the idea of standardized units was founded on the basic principle that they would be, “for all times, for all people.” Although in the years following their founding standardized units had become a universal form of communication and significantly contributed to many of the worlds greatest achievements, standardized units have only just recently fulfilled their original goal.
On November 16, 2018 a monumental shift was made in the world when the International System of Units, otherwise known as the metric system, officially changed all of our measurements definitions to be solely based off of the unchanging fundamental properties of nature, and would no longer be represented by physical objects. For years prior, the System of Units would base their measurements off of a singular reference material that was then replicated many times for the rest of the world to use. However, this still posed certain problems. The official objects of measurements could undergo wear and tear overtime. On top of that, in order to create new replicas, one had to go through quite a bit of work to get their hands on one of the already made replicas to use as a reference. This prevented the System of Units from truly achieving their goal because these units, although they were available, they weren’t available, “for all times, for all people.” However, with the unanimous vote on November 16th this was all changed. A shift to defining measurements based off of unchanging fundamental properties of nature has allowed anyone, with the right equipments, to have access to the more precise measurements without needing to find a piece calibrated to the original artifacts.
The benefits that come along with this change are plentiful. By making the base measurements depend on unchanging properties of nature, they no longer have to be represented by physical objects and can now be represented by facts. Take, for instance, the meter. What used to be represented by an official rod that all other meter’s duplicated, instead it is now represented by the distance light travels in a period of time. This change makes units more available to the public than ever before and more precise. The newest measurements are capable of being more universally similar than their previous counterparts, because they no longer have to rely on replicas that may differ slightly. They no longer have to be stored but are instead passed around as scientific facts that can be tested whenever, and wherever to create a reference for measuring tools.
Now that measurements more available than ever before the sky's the limit for the future of technological inventions and innovations. Understanding, all the progress human kind has made in the past using measurements, one can only imagine what is to come. In my future the world will have more access to the necessary tools to grow. Whenever I take any measurements in the future I can be more confident in their precision and effectiveness as a standard.
Works Cited
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
