Metric system




For a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of the metric system.





For a more accessible and less technical introduction to this topic, see Introduction to the metric system.



Four metric measuring devices: a tape measure in centimetres, a thermometer in degrees Celsius, a kilogram weight and a multimeter that measures volts, amperes and ohms


The metric system is an internationally recognised decimalised system of measurement. It is in widespread use, and where it is adopted, it is the only or most common system of weights and measures (see metrication). It is now known as the International System of Units (SI). It is used to measure everyday things such as the mass of a sack of flour, the height of a person, the speed of a car, and the volume of fuel in its tank. It is also used in science, industry and trade.


In its modern form, it consists of a set of base units including metre for length, kilogram for mass, second for time and ampere for electrical current, and a few others, which together with their derived units, can measure any physical quantity. Metric system may also refer to other systems of related base and derived units defined before the middle of the 20th century, some of which are still in limited use today.


The metric system was designed to have properties that make it easy to use and widely applicable, including units based on the natural world, decimal ratios, prefixes for multiples and sub-multiples, and a structure of base and derived units. It is also a coherent system, which means that its units do not introduce conversion factors not already present in equations relating quantities. It has a property called rationalisation that eliminates certain constants of proportionality in equations of physics.


The units of the metric system, originally taken from observable features of nature, are now defined by phenomena such as the microwave frequency of a caesium atomic clock which accurately measures seconds. One unit, the kilogram, remains defined in terms of a man-made artefact, but scientists recently voted to change the definition to one based on Planck's constant via a Kibble balance. The new definition is expected to be formally propagated in 2019.


While there are numerous named derived units of the metric system, such as watt and lumen, other common quantities such as velocity and acceleration do not have their own unit, but are defined in terms of existing base and derived units such as metres per second for velocity.


Though other currently or formerly widespread systems of weights and measures continue to exist, such as the British imperial system and the US customary system of weights and measures, in those systems most or all of the units are now defined in terms of the metric system, such as the US foot which is now a defined decimal fraction of a metre.


The metric system is also extensible, and new base and derived units are defined as needed in fields such as radiology and chemistry. The most recent derived unit, the katal, for catalytic activity, was added in 1999. Recent changes are directed toward defining base units in terms of invariant constants of physics to provide more precise realisations of units for advances in science and industry.




Contents






  • 1 Units


    • 1.1 Base units


    • 1.2 Derived units with special names


    • 1.3 Auxiliary and accessory units




  • 2 Realisation of units


  • 3 Properties as a system


    • 3.1 Units based on the natural world


    • 3.2 Base and derived unit structure


    • 3.3 Decimal ratios


    • 3.4 Prefixes for multiples and submultiples


    • 3.5 Coherence


    • 3.6 Rationalisation




  • 4 International System of Units


    • 4.1 Historical variants


      • 4.1.1 Gaussian second and the first mechanical system of units


      • 4.1.2 The EMU, ESU and Gaussian systems of electrical units


      • 4.1.3 Centimetre–gram–second systems


      • 4.1.4 International system of electrical units


      • 4.1.5 MKS and MKSA systems


      • 4.1.6 Metre–tonne–second systems


      • 4.1.7 Gravitational systems






  • 5 Conversion, calculation and symbol confusion incidents


  • 6 Conversion table


  • 7 See also


  • 8 Notes


  • 9 References


  • 10 External links





Units



Base units


The modern metric system consists of four electromechanical base units representing seven fundamental dimensions of measure: length, mass, time, electromagnetism, thermodynamic temperature, luminous intensity, and quantity of substance.
The units are:



  • the metre for length

  • kilogram for mass

  • second for time

  • ampere for electromagnetism

  • kelvin for temperature

  • candela for luminous intensity

  • mole for quantity


Together they are sufficient for measuring any known quantity,[1] without reference to further quantities or phenomena.


The metre, ampere, candela, and mole are all defined in terms of other base units. For example, the speed of light is defined as 299792458 metres per second, and the metre is derived from that constant and the definition of a second. As a result, in dimensional analysis, they remain wholly separate concepts.



Derived units with special names


There are currently 22 derived units with special names in the metric system, these are defined in terms of the base units or other named derived units.


Eight of these units are electromagnetic quantities:



  • volt, a unit of electrical potential

  • ohm, a unit of electrical resistance

  • tesla, a unit of magnetic flux density

  • weber, a unit of magnetic flux

  • farad, a unit of electrical capacitance

  • henry, a unit of electrical inductance

  • siemens, a unit of electrical conductance (the inverse of ohm)

  • coulomb, a unit of electrical charge


Four of these units are mechanical quantities:



  • watt, a unit of mechanical or electrical power

  • newton, a unit of mechanical force

  • joule, a unit of mechanical, electrical or thermodynamic energy

  • pascal, a unit of pressure


Five units represent measures of electromagnetic radiation and radioactivity:



  • becquerel, a unit of radioactive decay

  • sievert, a unit of absorbed ionising radiation

  • gray, a unit of ionising radiation

  • lux, a unit of luminous flux

  • lumen, a unit of luminous intensity


Two units are measures of circular arcs and spherical surfaces:



  • radian, a unit of circular arc

  • steradian, a unit of spherical surface area


Three units are miscellaneous:



  • degree Celsius, a unit of thermodynamic temperature

  • katal, a unit of catalytic activity (enzymatic)

  • hertz, a unit of cycles per second (inverse of second)



Auxiliary and accessory units


Main article: Non-SI units mentioned in the SI

Although SI, as published by the CGPM, should, in theory, meet all the requirements of commerce, science, and technology, certain customary units of measure have acquired established positions within the world community. In order that such units are used consistently around the world, the CGPM catalogued such units in Tables 6 to 9 of the SI brochure. These categories are:[2]




  • Non-SI units accepted for use with the International System of Units (Table 6). This list includes the hour and minute, the angular measures (degree, minute and second of arc), and the historic [non-coherent] metric units, the litre, tonne and hectare (originally agreed by the CGPM in 1879)


  • Non-SI units whose values in SI units must be obtained experimentally (Table 7). This list includes various units of measure used in atomic and nuclear physics and in astronomy such as the dalton, the electron mass, the electron volt, the astronomical unit, the solar mass, and a number of other units of measure that are well-established, but dependent on experimentally-determined physical quantities.


  • Other non-SI units (Table 8). This list catalogues a number of units of measure that have been used internationally in certain well-defined spheres including the bar for pressure, the ångström for atomic physics, the nautical mile and the knot in navigation.


  • Non-SI units associated with the CGS and the CGS-Gaussian system of units (Table 9). This table catalogues a number of units of measure based on the CGS system and dating from the nineteenth century. They appear frequently in the literature, but their continued use is discouraged by the CGPM.


The SI symbols for the metric units are intended to be identical, regardless of the language used[3] but unit names are ordinary nouns and use the character set and follow the grammatical rules of the language concerned. For example, the SI unit symbol for kilometre is "km" everywhere in the world, even though the local language word for the unit name may vary. Language variants for the kilometre unit name include: chilometro (Italian), Kilometer (German),[Note 1]kilometer (Dutch), kilomètre (French), χιλιόμετρο (Greek), quilómetro/quilômetro (Portuguese), kilómetro (Spanish) and километр (Russian).[4][5]


Variations are also found with the spelling of unit names in countries using the same language, including differences in American English and British spelling. For example, meter and liter are used in the United States whereas metre and litre are used in other English-speaking countries. In addition, the official US spelling for the rarely used SI prefix for ten is deka. In American English the term metric ton is the normal usage whereas in other varieties of English tonne is common. Gram is also sometimes spelled gramme in English-speaking countries other than the United States, though this older usage is declining.[6]


In SI, which is a coherent system, the unit of power is the "watt", which is defined as "one joule per second".[7] In the US customary system of measurement, which is non-coherent, the unit of power is the "horsepower", which is defined as "550 foot-pounds per second" (the pound in this context being the pound-force).[8] Similarly, neither the US gallon nor the imperial gallon is one cubic foot or one cubic yard— the US gallon is 231 cubic inches and the imperial gallon is 277.42 cubic inches.[9]


The concept of coherence was only introduced into the metric system in the third quarter of the 19th century;[10] in its original form the metric system was non-coherent—in particular the litre was 0.001 m3 and the are (from which the hectare derives) was 100 m2. However the units of mass and length were related to each other through the physical properties of water, the gram having been designed as being the mass of one cubic centimetre of water at its freezing point.[11]



Realisation of units




The metre was originally defined to be one ten millionth of the distance between the North Pole and the Equator through Paris.[12]


Main article: Realisation (metrology)

The base units used in the metric system must be realisable. Each of the definitions of the base units in SI is accompanied by a defined mise en pratique [practical realisation] that describes in detail at least one way in which the base unit can be measured.[13] Where possible, definitions of the base units were developed so that any laboratory equipped with proper instruments would be able to realise a standard without reliance on an artefact held by another country. In practice, such realisation is done under the auspices of a mutual acceptance arrangement (MAA).[14]


The standard metre is defined as exactly 1/299,792,458 of the distance that light travels in a second. The realisation of the metre depends in turn on precise realisation of the second. There are both astronomical observation methods and laboratory measurement methods that are used to realise units of the standard metre.
Because the speed of light is now exactly defined in terms of the metre, more precise measurement of the speed of light does not result in a more accurate figure for its velocity in standard units, but rather a more accurate definition of the metre. The accuracy of the measured speed of light is considered to be within 1 m/s,
and the realisation of the metre is within about 3 parts in 1,000,000,000, or an order of 10−9 parts.


The kilogram is defined by the mass of a man-made artefact of platinum-iridium held in a laboratory in France.
Replicas made in 1879 at the time of the artefact's fabrication and distributed to signatories of the Metre Convention serve as de facto standards of mass in those countries. Additional replicas have been fabricated since as additional countries have joined the convention. The replicas are subject to periodic validation by comparison to the original, called the IPK. It has become apparent that either the IPK or the replicas or both are deteriorating, and are no longer comparable: they have diverged by 50 μg since fabrication, so figuratively, the accuracy of the kilogram is no better than 5 parts in a hundred million or within an order of 10−8 parts. A proposed redefinition of SI base units is expected to include replacing the IPK with an exact definition of Planck's constant, which will then define the kilogram in terms of the second and metre.



Properties as a system


Although the metric system has changed and developed since its inception, its basic concepts have hardly changed. Designed for transnational use, it consisted of a basic set of units of measurement, now known as base units. Derived units were built up from the base units using logical rather than empirical relationships while multiples and submultiples of both base and derived units were decimal-based and identified by a standard set of prefixes.



Units based on the natural world


Like most units of measure, the units of the metric system were based on perceptual quantities of the natural world. But they also had definitions in terms of stable relationships in that world: a metre was defined not by the span of a man's arms like a toise, but on a quantitative measure of the earth. A kilogram was defined by a volume of water, whose linear dimensions were fractions of the unit of length. The earth was not easy to measure, nor was it uniformly shaped, but the principle that units of measure were to be based on quantitative relationships among invariant facets of the physical world was established. The units of the metric system today still adhere to that principle, but the relationships used are based on the physics of nature, rather than its sensory dimensions.



Base and derived unit structure


The metric system base units were originally adopted because they represented fundamental orthogonal dimensions of measurement corresponding to how we perceive nature: a spatial dimension, a time dimension, one for the effect of gravitation, and later, a more subtle one for the dimension of an "invisible substance" known as electricity or more generally, electromagnetism. One and only one unit in each of these dimensions was defined, unlike older systems where multiple perceptual quantities with the same dimension were prevalent, like inches, feet and yards or ounces, pounds and tons. Units for other quantities like area and volume, which are also spacial dimensional quantities, were derived from the fundamental ones by logical relationships, so that a unit of square area for example, was the unit of length squared.


Many derived units were already in use before and during the time the metric system evolved, because they represented convenient abstractions of whatever base units were defined for the system, especially in the sciences. So analogous units were scaled in terms of the metric units, and their names adopted into the system. Many of these were associated with electromagnetism. Other perceptual units, like volume, which were not defined in terms of base units, were incorporated into the system with definitions in the metric base units, so that the system remained simple. It grew in number of units, but the system retained a uniform structure.



Decimal ratios


Some customary systems of weights and measures had duodecimal ratios, which meant quantities were conveniently divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6. But it was difficult to do arithmetic with things like ​1⁄4 pound or ​1⁄3 foot. There was no system of notation for successive fractions: for example, ​1⁄3 of ​1⁄3 of a foot was not an inch or any other unit. But the system of counting in decimal ratios did have notation, and the system had the algebraic property of multiplicative closure: a fraction of a fraction, or a multiple of a fraction was a quantity in the system, like ​1⁄10 of ​1⁄10 which is ​1⁄100. So a decimal radix became the ratio between unit sizes of the metric system.



Prefixes for multiples and submultiples


Main article: Metric prefix

In the metric system, multiples and submultiples of units follow a decimal pattern.[Note 2]










































































































































Metric prefixes in everyday use
Text
 Symbol
 Factor
 Power
yotta
 Y
7024100000000000000♠1000000000000000000000000
 1024
zetta
 Z
7021100000000000000♠1000000000000000000000
 1021
exa
 E
7018100000000000000♠1000000000000000000
 1018
peta
 P
7015100000000000000♠1000000000000000
 1015
tera
 T
7012100000000000000♠1000000000000
 1012
giga
 G
7009100000000000000♠1000000000
 109
mega
 M
7006100000000000000♠1000000
 106
kilo
 k
7003100000000000000♠1000
 103
hecto
 h
 100
 102
deca
 da
 10
 101
(none)
 (none)
 1
 100
deci
 d
 0.1
 10−1
centi
 c
 0.01
 10−2
milli
 m
 0.001
 10−3
micro
 μ
6994100000000000000♠0.000001
 10−6
nano
 n
6991100000000000000♠0.000000001
 10−9
pico
 p
6988100000000000000♠0.000000000001
 10−12
femto
 f
6985100000000000000♠0.000000000000001
 10−15
atto
 a
6982100000000000000♠0.000000000000000001
 10−18
zepto
 z
6979099999999999999♠0.000000000000000000001
 10−21
yocto
 y
6976099999999999999♠0.000000000000000000000001
 10−24


  • v

  • t

  • e



A common set of decimal-based prefixes that have the effect of multiplication or division by an integer power of ten can be applied to units that are themselves too large or too small for practical use. The concept of using consistent classical (Latin or Greek) names for the prefixes was first proposed in a report by the French Revolutionary Commission on Weights and Measures in May 1793.[12]:89–96 The prefix kilo, for example, is used to multiply the unit by 1000, and the prefix milli is to indicate a one-thousandth part of the unit. Thus the kilogram and kilometre are a thousand grams and metres respectively, and a milligram and millimetre are one thousandth of a gram and metre respectively. These relations can be written symbolically as:[15]


1 mg = 0.001 g

1 km = 1000 m

In the early days, multipliers that were positive powers of ten were given Greek-derived prefixes such as kilo- and mega-, and those that were negative powers of ten were given Latin-derived prefixes such as centi- and milli-. However, 1935 extensions to the prefix system did not follow this convention: the prefixes nano- and micro-, for example have Greek roots.[16] During the 19th century the prefix myria-, derived from the Greek word μύριοι (mýrioi), was used as a multiplier for 7004100000000000000♠10000.[17]


When applying prefixes to derived units of area and volume that are expressed in terms of units of length squared or cubed, the square and cube operators are applied to the unit of length including the prefix, as illustrated below.[15]



























1 mm2 (square millimetre) = (1 mm)2  = (0.001 m)2  = 6994100000000000000♠0.000001 m2
1 km2 (square kilometre)  = (1 km)2
 = (1000 m)2
 = 7006100000000000000♠1000000 m2
1 mm3 (cubic millimetre) = (1 mm)3
 = (0.001 m)3
 = 6991100000000000000♠0.000000001 m3
1 km3 (cubic kilometre) = (1 km)3
 = (1000 m)3
 = 7009100000000000000♠1000000000 m3

Prefixes are not usually used to indicate multiples of a second greater than 1; the non-SI units of minute, hour and day are used instead. On the other hand, prefixes are used for multiples of the non-SI unit of volume, the litre (l, L) such as millilitres (ml).[15]



Coherence


Main article: Coherence (units of measurement)




James Clerk Maxwell played a major role in developing the concept of a coherent CGS system and in extending the metric system to include electrical units.


Each variant of the metric system has a degree of coherence—the derived units are directly related to the base units without the need for intermediate conversion factors.[18] For example, in a coherent system the units of force, energy and power are chosen so that the equations
























force = mass ×
acceleration
energy = force ×
distance
energy = power ×
time

hold without the introduction of unit conversion factors. Once a set of coherent units have been defined, other relationships in physics that use those units will automatically be true. Therefore, Einstein's mass–energy equation, E = mc2, does not require extraneous constants when expressed in coherent units.[19]


The CGS system had two units of energy, the erg that was related to mechanics and the calorie that was related to thermal energy; so only one of them (the erg) could bear a coherent relationship to the base units. Coherence was a design aim of SI, which resulted in only one unit of energy being defined – the joule.[7]



Rationalisation


Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism contained a factor relating to steradians, representative of the fact that electric charges and magnetic fields may be considered to emanate from a point and propagate equally in all directions, i.e. spherically. This factor appeared awkwardly in many equations of physics dealing with the dimensionality of electromagnetism and sometimes other things.



International System of Units


Main articles: International System of Units and List of physical quantities

The International System of Units is the modern metric system. It is based on the Metre-Kilogram-Second-Ampere (MKSA) system of units from early in the 20th century. It also includes numerous coherent derived units for common quantities like power (watt) and irradience (lumen). Electrical units were taken from the International system then in use. Other units like those for energy (joule) were modeled on those from the older CGS system, but scaled to be coherent with MKSA units. Two additional base units, degree Kelvin equivalent to degree Centigrade for thermodynamic temperature, and candela, roughly equivalent to the international candle unit of illumination, were introduced. Later, another base unit, the mole, a unit of mass equivalent to Avogadro's number of specified molecules, was added along with several other derived units.


The system was promulgated by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (French: Conférence générale des poids et mesures – CGPM) in 1960. At that time, the metre was redefined in terms of the wavelength of a spectral line of the krypton-86[Note 3] atom, and the standard metre artefact from 1889 was retired.


Today, the International system of units consists of 7 base units and innumerable coherent derived units including 22 with special names. The last new derived unit, the katal for catalytic activity, was added in 1999. Some of the base units are now realised in terms of invariant constants of physics. As a consequence, the speed of light has now become an exactly defined constant, and defines the metre as ​1⁄299,792,458 of the distance light travels in a second. The kilogram remains defined by a man-made artefact of platinum-iridium, and it is deteriorating. The range of decimal prefixes has been extended to those for 1024, yotta, and 10−24, yocto, which are unfamiliar because nothing in our everyday lives is that big or that small.


The International System of Units has been adopted as the official system of weights and measures by all nations in the world except for Myanmar, Liberia, and the United States, while the United States is the only industrialised country where the metric system is not the predominant system of units.



Historical variants


A number of variants of the metric system evolved, all using the Mètre des Archives and Kilogramme des Archives (or their descendants) as their base units, but differing in the definitions of the various derived units.





Variants of the metric system




































































Quantity
CGS
MKS
MTS
distance, displacement,

length, height, etc.

(d, x, l, h, etc.)
centimetre (cm)
metre (m)
 metre
mass (m)
gram (g)
kilogram (kg)
tonne (t)
time (t)
second (s)
 second
 second
speed, velocity (v, v)
 cm/s
 m/s
 m/s
acceleration (a)
gal (Gal)
 m/s2
 m/s2
force (F)
dyne (dyn)
newton (N)
sthene (sn)
pressure (P or p)
barye (Ba)
pascal (Pa)
pièze (pz)
energy (E, Q, W)
erg (erg)
joule (J)
 kilojoule (kJ)
power (P)
 erg/s
watt (W)
 kilowatt (kW)
viscosity (μ)
poise (P)
 Pa⋅s
 pz⋅s



Gaussian second and the first mechanical system of units


In 1832, Gauss used the astronomical second as a base unit in defining the gravitation of the earth, and together with the gram and millimetre, became the first system of mechanical units.



The EMU, ESU and Gaussian systems of electrical units


Several systems of electrical units were defined following discovery of Ohm's law in 1824.



Centimetre–gram–second systems


The centimetre–gram–second system of units (CGS) was the first coherent metric system, having been developed in the 1860s and promoted by Maxwell and Thomson. In 1874, this system was formally promoted by the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS).[20] The system's characteristics are that density is expressed in g/cm3, force expressed in dynes and mechanical energy in ergs. Thermal energy was defined in calories, one calorie being the energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water from 15.5 °C to 16.5 °C. The meeting also recognised two sets of units for electrical and magnetic properties – the electrostatic set of units and the electromagnetic set of units.[21]



International system of electrical units


The CGS units of electricity were cumbersome to work with. This was remedied at the 1893 International Electrical Congress held in Chicago by defining the "international" ampere and ohm using definitions based on the metre, kilogram and second.[22]



MKS and MKSA systems


In 1901, Giovanni Giorgi showed that by adding an electrical unit as a fourth base unit, the various anomalies in electromagnetic systems could be resolved. The metre–kilogram–second–coulomb (MKSC) and metre–kilogram–second–ampere (MKSA) systems are examples of such systems.[23]


The International System of Units (Système international d'unités or SI) is the current international standard metric system and is also the system most widely used around the world. It is an extension of Giorgi's MKSA system—its base units are the metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, candela and mole.[7]
The MKS (Metre, Kilogram, Second) system came into existence in 1889, when artefacts for the metre and kilogram were fabricated according to the convention of the Metre. Early in the 20th century, an unspecified electrical unit was added, and the system was called MKSX. When it became apparent that the unit would be the ampere, the system was referred to as the MKSA system, and was the direct predecessor of the SI.



Metre–tonne–second systems


The metre–tonne–second system of units (MTS) was based on the metre, tonne and second – the unit of force was the sthène and the unit of pressure was the pièze. It was invented in France for industrial use and from 1933 to 1955 was used both in France and in the Soviet Union.[24][25]



Gravitational systems


Gravitational metric systems use the kilogram-force (kilopond) as a base unit of force, with mass measured in a unit known as the hyl, Technische Mass Einheit (TME), mug or metric slug.[26] Although the CGPM passed a resolution in 1901 defining the standard value of acceleration due to gravity to be 980.665 cm/s2, gravitational units are not part of the International System of Units (SI).[27]



Conversion, calculation and symbol confusion incidents


The dual usage of or confusion between metric and non-metric units and confusion of metric symbols have resulted in a number of serious incidents. These include:



  • Due to serious medication errors having resulted from confusion between mg and μg, doses of less than one milligram must be expressed in micrograms written in full (the symbol μg being banned) in the Scottish health service.[28]

  • Flying an overloaded American International Airways aircraft from Miami, Florida to Maiquetia, Venezuela on 26 May 1994. The degree of overloading was consistent with ground crew reading the kilogram markings on the cargo as pounds.[29]

  • In 1999 the Institute for Safe Medication Practices reported that confusion between grains and grams led to a patient receiving phenobarbital 0.5 grams instead of 0.5 grains (0.03 grams) after the practitioner misread the prescription.[30]

  • The Canadian "Gimli Glider" accident in 1983, when a Boeing 767 jet ran out of fuel in mid-flight because of two mistakes made when calculating the fuel supply of Air Canada's first aircraft to use metric measurements: mechanics miscalculated the amount of fuel required by the aircraft as a result of their unfamiliarity with metric units.[31]

  • The root cause of the loss in 1999 of NASA's US$125 million Mars Climate Orbiter was a mismatch of units – the spacecraft engineers calculated the thrust forces required for velocity changes using US customary units (lbf⋅s) whereas the team who built the thrusters were expecting a value in metric units (N⋅s) as per the agreed specification.[32][33]



Conversion table


Main article: Conversion of units

During its evolution, the metric system has adopted many units of measure. The introduction of SI rationalised both the way in which units of measure were defined and also the list of units in use. These are now catalogued in the official SI Brochure.[7] The table below lists the units of measure in this catalogue and shows the conversion factors connecting them with the equivalent units that were in use on the eve of the adoption of SI.[34][35][36][37]



































































































































































































































Quantity
 Dimension
 SI unit and symbol
 Legacy unit and symbol
 Conversion
factor

Time
 T
second (s)
 second (s)
 1

Length
 L
metre (m)
centimetre (cm)
ångström (Å)
 0.01
10−10

Mass
 M
kilogram (kg)
gram (g)
 0.001

Electric current
 I
ampere (A)
international ampere
abampere or biot
statampere
7000100002200000000♠1.000022
10.0
6990333564100000000♠3.335641×10−10

Temperature
 Θ
kelvin (K)
degree Celsius (°C)
centigrade (°C)
 [K] = [°C] + 273.15
1

Luminous intensity
 J
candela (cd)
international candle
 0.982

Amount of substance
 N
mole (mol)
 No legacy unit
 n/a

Area
 L2
square metre (m2)
are (a)[38]
 100

Acceleration
 LT−2
 (m⋅s−2)
 gal (gal)
 10−2

Frequency
 T−1
hertz (Hz)
 cycles per second
 1

Energy
 L2MT−2
joule (J)
erg (erg)
 10−7

Power
 L2MT−3
watt (W)
 (erg/s)
horsepower (hp)
Pferdestärke (PS)
 10−7
745.7
735.5

Force
 LMT−2
newton (N)
dyne (dyn)
sthene (sn)
kilopond (kp)
 10−5
103
7000980665000000000♠9.80665

Pressure
 L−1MT−2
pascal (Pa)
barye (Ba)
pieze (pz)
atmosphere (at)
 0.1
103
7005101325000000000♠1.01325×105

Electric charge
 IT
coulomb (C)
abcoulomb
statcoulomb or franklin
 10
6990333564100000000♠3.335641×10−10

Potential difference
 L2MT−3I−1
volt (V)
international volt
abvolt
statvolt
7000100034000000000♠1.00034
10−8
7002299792500000000♠2.997925×102

Capacitance
 L−2M−1T4I2
farad (F)
 abfarad
statfarad
 109
6988111265000000000♠1.112650×10−12

Inductance
 L2MT−2I−2
henry (H)
abhenry
stathenry
 10−9
7011898755200000000♠8.987552×1011

Electric resistance
 L2MT−3I−2
ohm (Ω)
 international ohm
abohm
statohm
7000100049000000000♠1.00049
10−9
7011898755200000000♠8.987552×1011

Electric conductance
 L−2M−1T3I2
siemens (S)
international mho (℧)
abmho
statmho
6999999510000000000♠0.99951
109
6988111265000000000♠1.112650×10−12

Magnetic flux
 L2MT−2I−1
weber (Wb)
maxwell (Mx)
 10−8

Magnetic flux density
 MT−2I−1
tesla (T)
gauss (G)
 10−4

Magnetic field strength
 IL−1
 (A/m)
oersted (Oe)
 ​103⁄4π = 7001795774700000000♠79.57747

Dynamic viscosity
 ML−1T−1
 (Pa⋅s)
poise (P)
 0.1

Kinematic viscosity
 L2T−1
 (m2⋅s−1)
stokes (St)
 10−4

Luminous flux
 J
lumen (lm)
stilb (sb)
 104

Illuminance
 JL−2
lux (lx)
phot (ph)
 104
[Radioactive] activity
 T−1
becquerel (Bq)
curie (Ci)
7010370000000000000♠3.70×1010

Absorbed [radiation] dose
 L2T−2
gray (Gy)
roentgen (R)
rad (rad)
 ≈0.01[Note 4]
0.01

Radiation dose equivalent
 L2T−2
sievert
roentgen equivalent man (rem)
 0.01

Catalytic activity
 NT−1
katal (kat)
enzyme unit(U)
 1/60μkat

The SI Brochure also catalogues certain non-SI units that are widely used with the SI in matters of everyday life or units that are exactly defined values in terms of SI units and are used in particular circumstances to satisfy the needs of commercial, legal, or specialised scientific interests. These units include:[7]













































Quantity
 Dimension
 Unit and symbol
 Equivalence

Mass
 M
tonne (t)
7003100000000000000♠1000 kg

Area
 L2
hectare (ha)
 0.01 km2
104 m2

Volume
 L3
litre (L or l)
 0.001 m3

Time
 T
minute (min)
hour (h)
day (d)
 60 s
7003360000000000000♠3600 s
7004864000000000000♠86400 s

Pressure
 L−1MT−2
bar
 100 kPa

Plane angle
none
degree (°)
minute (′)
second (″)
 (​π⁄180) rad
(​π⁄7004108000000000000♠10800) rad
(​π⁄7005648000000000000♠648000) rad


See also




  • Binary prefix, used in computer science

  • History of the metric system

  • History of measurement


  • ISO/IEC 80000, style manual for measurements metric and non-metric, superseding ISO 31

  • Metrology



Notes





  1. ^ In German all nouns start with an upper-case letter


  2. ^ Non-SI units for time and plane angle measurement, inherited from existing systems, are an exception to the decimal-multiplier rule


  3. ^ A stable isotope of an inert gas that occurs in undetectable or trace amounts naturally


  4. ^ Roentgen is a measure of ionisation (charge per mass), not of absorbed dose, so there is no well-defined conversion factor. However, a radiation field of gamma rays that produces 1 roentgen of ionisation in dry air would deposit 0.0096 gray in soft tissue, and between 0.01 and 0.04 grays in bone. Since this unit was often used in radiation detectors, a factor of 0.01 can be used to convert the detector reading in roentgens to the approximate absorbed dose in grays.




References





  1. ^ Strictly speaking, weak and strong charges may add two base dimensions: see Chyla, W.T. (December 2011). "Evolution of the International Metric System of Units SI" (PDF). Acta Physica Polonica A. 120 (6): 998–1011..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ International Bureau of Weights and Measures (2006), The International System of Units (SI) (PDF) (8th ed.), pp. 124–129, ISBN 92-822-2213-6, archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-08-14


  3. ^ International Bureau of Weights and Measures (2006), The International System of Units (SI) (PDF) (8th ed.), p. 130, ISBN 92-822-2213-6, archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-08-14


  4. ^ "Online Translation—Offering hundreds of dictionaries and translation in more than 800 language pairs". Babylon. Retrieved 5 February 2011.


  5. ^ Working Group 2 of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM/WG 2). (2008), International vocabulary of metrology — Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) (PDF) (3rd ed.), International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) on behalf of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology, p. 9, retrieved 5 March 2011


  6. ^ "Weights and Measures Act 1985 (c. 72)". The UK Statute Law Database. Office of Public Sector Information. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2011. § 92.


  7. ^ abcde International Bureau of Weights and Measures (2006), The International System of Units (SI) (PDF) (8th ed.), pp. 111–120, ISBN 92-822-2213-6, archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-08-14


  8. ^ "Horsepower". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.


  9. ^ MacLean, RW (20 December 1957). "A Central Program for Weights and Measures in Canada". Report of the 42nd National Conference on Weights and Measures 1957. National Bureau of Standards. p. 47. Miscellaneous publication 222. Retrieved 8 May 2013.


  10. ^ J C Maxwell (1873). A treatise on electricity and magnetism. 2. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 242–245. Retrieved 12 May 2011.


  11. ^ "La loi du 18 Germinal an 3 la mesure [républicaine] de superficie pour les terrains, égale à un carré de dix mètres de côté" [The law of 18 Germanial year 3 "The republican measures of land area equal to a square with sides of ten metres"] (in French). Le CIV (Centre d'Instruction de Vilgénis) – Forum des Anciens. Retrieved 2 March 2010.


  12. ^ ab Alder, Ken (2002). The Measure of all Things—The Seven-Year-Odyssey that Transformed the World. London: Abacus. ISBN 978-0-349-11507-8.


  13. ^ "What is a mise en pratique?". BIPM. 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.


  14. ^ "OIML Mutual Acceptance Arrangement (MAA)". International Organisation of Legal Metrology. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.


  15. ^ abc International Bureau of Weights and Measures (2006), The International System of Units (SI) (PDF) (8th ed.), pp. 121, 122, ISBN 92-822-2213-6, archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-08-14


  16. ^ McGreevy, Thomas (1997). Cunningham, Peter, ed. The Basis of Measurement: Volume 2—Metrication and Current Practice. Chippenham: Picton Publishing. pp. 222–223. ISBN 978-0-948251-84-9.


  17. ^ Brewster, D (1830). The Edinburgh Encyclopædia. p. 494.


  18. ^ Working Group 2 of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM/WG 2). (2008), International vocabulary of metrology — Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) (PDF) (3rd ed.), International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) on behalf of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology, 1.12, retrieved 12 April 2012


  19. ^ Good, Michael. "Some Derivations of E = mc2" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.


  20. ^ International Bureau of Weights and Measures (2006), The International System of Units (SI) (PDF) (8th ed.), p. 109, ISBN 92-822-2213-6, archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-08-14


  21. ^ Thomson, William; Joule, James Prescott; Maxwell, James Clerk; Jenkin, Flemming (1873). "First Report – Cambridge 3 October 1862". In Jenkin, Flemming. Reports on the Committee on Standards of Electrical Resistance – Appointed by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. London. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 12 May 2011.


  22. ^ "Historical context of the SI—Unit of electric current (ampere)". The NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty. Retrieved 10 April 2011.


  23. ^ "In the beginning... Giovanni Giorgi". International Electrotechnical Commission. 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.


  24. ^ "System of Measurement Units". IEEE Global History Network. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Retrieved 21 March 2011.


  25. ^ "Notions de physique – Systèmes d'unités" [Symbols used in physics – units of measure] (in French). Hydrelect.info. Retrieved 21 March 2011.


  26. ^ Michon, Gérard P (9 September 2000). "Final Answers". Numericana.com. Retrieved 11 October 2012.


  27. ^ "Resolution of the 3rd meeting of the CGPM (1901)". General Conference on Weights and Measures. Retrieved 11 October 2012.


  28. ^ "Prescribing Information for Liquid Medicines". NHS Scotland. Retrieved 11 November 2018.


  29. ^ "NTSB Order No. EA-4510" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Transportation Safety Board. 1996. Retrieved 3 August 2008.


  30. ^ "ISMP Quarterly Action Agenda: April–June, 1999". Institute for Safe Medication Practices. 14 July 1999. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2008.


  31. ^ Williams, Merran (July–August 2003). "The 156-tonne Gimli Glider" (PDF). Flight Safety Australia: 22–27. Retrieved 4 December 2012.


  32. ^ "NASA's metric confusion caused Mars orbiter loss". CNN. 30 September 1999. Retrieved 21 August 2007.


  33. ^ "Mars Climate Orbiter; Mishap Investigation Board; Phase I Report" (PDF). NASA. 10 November 1999. Retrieved 25 August 2011.


  34. ^ "Index to Units & Systems of Units". sizes.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2011.


  35. ^ "Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically". NIST Guide to the SI. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2011.


  36. ^ International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (1993). Quantities, Units and Symbols in Physical Chemistry, 2nd edition, Oxford: Blackwell Science.
    ISBN 0-632-03583-8. pp. 110–116. Electronic version..


  37. ^ Fenna, Donald (2002). Oxford Dictionary of Weights, Measures and Units. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-860522-5.


  38. ^ BS350:Part 1:1974 Conversion factors and tables Part 1. Basis of tables. Conversion factors. British Standards Institution. 1974. p. 7.




External links








  • CBC Radio Archives For Good Measure: Canada Converts to Metric


  • US Metric Association Metrication in other countries












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