Abstract
This chapter explores the two commonly used measurement systems today: (1) the Système internationale d’unités (SI) metric system and (2) the U.S. Customary or English system. The English system, with roots back over 6000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, has changed significantly over the intervening centuries. The history of these changes is highlighted up to the current definitions of the units, which actually use SI metric units as a basis. Similarly, the genesis of the metric system is traced from its earliest roots before the French Revolution to its adoption over the past 200 years by almost all countries, with the exceptions of the United States, Liberia, and Burma. The SI metric system’s role as the international standard for weights and measures is discussed. The trend toward base unit definitions using natural constants and how this approach is progressing are discussed.
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Treese, S.A. (2018). Metric and U.S. Customary/English Systems. In: History and Measurement of the Base and Derived Units. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77577-7_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77577-7_3
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