History of Measurements

1. The earliest known uniform systems of weights and measures seem all to have been created at some time in the fourth andthird millennia BC among the ancient peoples of Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Indus valley. History of Measurements By: Francisco Orengo

2. Egyptians • They used levels and sun-dials in the construction of huge stone temples and monuments, such as the pyramids.

3. Romans • The term "Foot" came when someone measured a standard person's foot. Though it was said it was a king's foot, some feet are smaller or larger than 12 inches. The term "inch" came from the Latin word uncio. The word uncio means, 1/12. And an inch is 1/12 of a foot. "Yard" came from middle English word meaning "rod or staff; yard measure". It is said that it was measured from a man's neck to his finger tips.

4. For what reason did the French Academy of Science create the metric system? • The Metric System was designed during the French Revolution of the 1790's, • the metric system brought order out of the conflicting and confusing traditional systems of weights and measures then being used in Europe. • Prior to the introduction of the metric system, it was common for units of length, land area, and weight to vary, not just from one country to another but from one region to another within the same country. • As the modern nations were gradually assembled from smaller kingdoms and principalities, confusion simply multiplied. • Merchants, scientists, and educated people throughout Europe realized that a uniform system was needed, but it was only in the climate of a complete political upheaval that such a radical change could actually be considered.

5. What was the Treaty of the Meter (May 20, 1875)? • It was a agreement that created to preserve the metric system. One organization was the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM); the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM); International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). • BIPM-International Bureau of Weights and Measures • CGPM-General Conference on Weights and Measures • CIPM-International Committee of Weights and Measures

6. How was the length of a standard meter defined in the year 1791? • In the 18th century it was felt that a standard unit of length was needed. The French Academy of Sciences decided in 1791 that the meter would be defined by the dimensions of the planet earth.

7. How was the length of a standard meter redefined in the year 1983? • On October 20, 1983, the meter was officially redefined as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. • Light travels at 299792.458 km/sec, so the period was chosen as 0.00000000335641 second, or 3.35641 x 10-9 second.

8. What was the significance of the Metric Act of 1866? • The Metric Act in 1866 was significant because recognized the metric system as a legal system of measurement in the United States. Basically, it said that the United States found the metric system reliable enough to be used in the U.S.

9. What were some of the early tools to help aid in measurement? • Of the tools found by archaeologists, the oldest tool used for measurement was the compass. It was used to ensure two stones, when cut would fit together accurately. This aided in the pyramids construction.

10. What major engineering blunders were results of faulty measurement? • Mars Rover was created in Metric and Standard measurements, and crashed into the surface due to miscalculations.