History of the Metric System

History of the Metric System

Before humans created systems of measurement, like the metric system, many cultures used local customs for measuring objects. The English at one time used grains of barley as their standard for measurement! However, as you can guess, all grains of barley are not the same, so their system was not at all accurate.

During the 17th century, forward thinking people realized that a standard system was needed for accurate and consistent measurement. Gabriel Mouton, a clergyman from France, proposed a decimal measurement system in 1670 AD based on the length of one minute of the Earth's circumference. The French astronomer Jean Picard suggested that the length of a pendulum that swung once per second should be the standard unit for measuring in 1671 AD. These were much more accurate than local custom forms of measurement, as they were based on physical laws of motion. These were the beginnings of measurement systems as we know them and over the years they have taken many forms.

It wasn't until the 1790s that the "metric system" was created. The National Assembly of France requested that the FrenchAcademy of Sciences invent an accurate, standard system of weights and measures in 1790 AD. The system they created was simple and scientific and was adopted by the French in 1795 AD. This was, of course, the metric system. Although adopted by the French government, the French people were not required to use this form of measurement until 1840!

This earliest form of the metric system had the unit of measure equaling a fraction of the earth's circumference. This fraction was 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the longitudinal line near Barcelona, Spain/Dunkerque, France and the North Pole. This unit of length was called the metre, based on the Greek word metron, which means measure.

The metre, as stated above, is the standard measure of length in the metric system. The unit for fluid capacity was originally a cubic decimeter, which became known as the liter. The unit for mass is a cubic centimeter of water at about 4 degrees centigrade, as that is when the unit weighs the most. That unit for mass became known as the gram.

Over the years, these units of measurement have been replaced by even more accurate ones. Other units of measure have also been added to the system. The General Conference for Weight and Measures, an international group of scientists that meets to revise the metric system, gave this measurement system the name "Systeme International d'Unites" in 1960.

Today, the metric system has been adopted by most major countries. The United States is the only major country that still has a very limited use of this system of measurement. U.S. businesses have converted to this system, though, due to the fact they are competing in a global market that is based on the metric system.

Goals Of The Metric System

The Metric System Was Created Because:
In a nutshell, the metric system was created by French scientists at the request of the National Assembly of France. The National Assembly of France wanted a standardized system of weights and measures. The scientists, who were from the FrenchAcademy of Sciences, formed a commission who proposed a system of measurement that was both scientific in nature and simple to remember and use.

The system that was created became known as the metric system. Scientists named the meter, or the unit of length, after the Greek term metron, meaning measure.

The Purpose And Goals Of The Metric System Are:

- To make a universal system of measurement. - The metric system is a neutral system that can be adopted around the globe.

- To make a system of measurement that can be replicated.

- To make a system of measurement that is easy to remember and use.

The metric system is decimal. It only has seven units of measurement. It uses base 10 arithmetic. All of these factors seem to point to the metric system as being the logical choice for measurement.

- All of the prefixes for each type of measure are the same. - Kilo, Hecto, Deca, Deci, Centi, Milli, etc. are used to describe all units of measure in the metric system.

With all the information available comparing the different systems of measurement, switching to the metric system is the practical thing to do.

Benefits Of The Metric System

One group of units used to measure items such as length, temperature, time and weight is known as the metric system. Some units that come from the metric system you may have heard of : the meter, the kilogram, the second and the kelvin.

For many years, there have been debates about the pros and cons of the metric system. No matter how many arguments or lengthy discussions stem from this debate of meter vs. foot, kilometer vs. mile and kilograms vs. pounds, there are many benefits of the metric system. Here are just a few:

1. The metric system has been adopted by most major countries around the world. By the mid-1970s, most countries had converted to the metric system or had plans to do so. When it comes to measurement, the United States is the only major country who has not adopted the metric system! Using the metric system just makes sense, in order to standardize measurement around the globe.

2. The metric system was created by scientists. When invented, it was designed to fit their needs, so it is a logical and exact system.

3. The metric system was designed to be simple! When making measurements of all kinds, it is only necessary to know a few metric units! In all, there are only 7 base units in this system of measurement! Compared to the twenty base units found in the inch-pound system of measurement, it is much easier to remember. The metric system also follows the decimal number system, so each metric unit increases or decreases in size by 10. (Ex. 1 meter = 10 decimeters; 1 decimeter = 10 centimeters; etc.)

Since there is no other system of measurement that matches the metric system in simplicity, it is the logical choice for use around the world.