Tagged Questions
0
votes
2answers
118 views
Why metric system uses kilogram as a basic SI unit?
SI system uses all (that I know) measurement basic units as 1 (single) instance: meter, second, ampere, etc, except the KILOgram. It already defined with 1000 multiplier (kilo).
It prevents from ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Zero uncertainty constant and a unit change
So, we know the speed of light with zero uncertainty. We also know that values of $\epsilon_0$ (electric constant) and $\mu_0$ (magnetic constant) are known with zero uncertainty.
My questions are ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
A sphere, a simple object?
In this video, the woman says that a sphere is a pretty simple object. What intrigues me is the use of a sphere for such a calculation. First of all, the sphere wouldn't be perfect as a perfect sphere ...
4
votes
1answer
97 views
Does the Kelvin have a rigorous definition?
From Wikipedia:
The kelvin is defined as the fraction 1⁄273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water.
That presupposes that we can take a fraction of temperature.
Now, ...
3
votes
1answer
113 views
There are plans to develop a better definition of a “second”. How does the current definition fall short?
The current definition of a second is stated here and I found a presentation on the BIPM site which discusses plans to change to a "better" definition of a second. You can find the presentation here. ...
1
vote
3answers
162 views
Can you use PCR to make a standard kg?
While reading this question: Why do we still not have an exact definition for a kilogram? , I had a crazy thought.
Using PCR, you make a known number of copies of a DNA strand where the length and ...
4
votes
3answers
324 views
Why do we still not have an exact definition for a kilogram?
I read that there is an effort to define a kilogram in terms that can exactly be reproduced in a lab. Why has it taken so long to get this done? It seems this would be fairly important.
Edit
Today I ...
4
votes
1answer
155 views
Avogadro's number
Could I get an explanation of Avogadro's number and how it relates to determining the mass of a substance? My chemistry textbook only serves to confuse me and the Wikipedia article is aimed towards a ...
6
votes
5answers
876 views
Is anything actually 1 meter long (or 1kg of weight)?
I believe that no real objects are actually (exactly) 1 meter long, since for something to be 1.00000000... meters long, we would have to have the ability to measure with infinite precision. ...
10
votes
6answers
848 views
What's keeping us from simply redefining Avogadro's Number / the Mole as a definite integer?
This might be a question to ask in a Chemistry site, but because there is a lot of talk about redefining many units of measurements in terms of Avogadro's Number / the Mole, I was wondering why we ...
6
votes
5answers
429 views
Why were the SI base quantities chosen as such?
The reasons for choosing length, mass, time, temperature, and amount as base quantities look (at least to me) obvious. What I'm puzzling about is why current (as opposed to resistance, electromotive ...
