Definition:Metric System
Definition
The metric system is the colloquial term for the system of measurement based on the metre.
Its main characteristic is that its units are constructed on a decimal system.
Metric Scaling Prefixes
| Multiples | Name | deka- | hecto- | kilo- | mega- | giga- | tera- | peta- | exa- | zetta- | yotta- | ronna- | quetta- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbol | $\mathrm{da}$ | $\mathrm h$ | $\mathrm k$ | $\mathrm M$ | $\mathrm G$ | $\mathrm T$ | $\mathrm P$ | $\mathrm E$ | $\mathrm Z$ | $\mathrm Y$ | $\mathrm R$ | $\mathrm Q$ | |
| Factor | $10^1$ | $10^2$ | $10^3$ | $10^6$ | $10^9$ | $10^{12}$ | $10^{15}$ | $10^{18}$ | $10^{21}$ | $10^{24}$ | $10^{27}$ | $10^{30}$ | |
| Subdivisions | Name | deci- | centi- | milli- | micro- | nano- | pico- | femto- | atto- | zepto- | yocto- | ronto- | quecto- |
| Symbol | $\mathrm d$ | $\mathrm c$ | $\mathrm m$ | $\mu$ | $\mathrm n$ | $\mathrm p$ | $\mathrm f$ | $\mathrm a$ | $\mathrm z$ | $\mathrm y$ | $\mathrm r$ | $\mathrm q$ | |
| Factor | $10^{-1}$ | $10^{-2}$ | $10^{-3}$ | $10^{-6}$ | $10^{-9}$ | $10^{-12}$ | $10^{-15}$ | $10^{-18}$ | $10^{-21}$ | $10^{-24}$ | $10^{-27}$ | $10^{-30}$ | |
Also see
Historical Note
The concept of a metric system was first floated by Simon Stevin in $1585$.
Joseph Louis Lagrange promoted the idea in the $18$th century.
Subsequently, in $1790$, the French government invited a number of scientists to recommend a system of measurement, and also to propose a new unit of length.
By $1795$, the idea had taken hold, and the metre, the litre and the gram had been introduced.
The metre was defined as being $10^{-7}$ the distance from the North Pole to the equator, based on measurements between Barcelona and Dunkerque.
Subsequently this distance was shown to be inaccurate.
The metre has since been redefined multiple times.
During the first quarter of the $19$th century, the metric system was adopted in most European nations.
The UK held out till $1963$, at which point the yard was formally defined in terms of the metre.
The US, at time of writing this, still uses mainly imperial measures.
Sources
- 1944: Alfred E. Holbrow: Geometrical Drawing (12th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Section $\text I$. Introduction
- 1966: Isaac Asimov: Understanding Physics ... (previous) ... (next): $\text {I}$: Motion, Sound and Heat: Chapter $2$: Falling Bodies: Free Fall
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $10$
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $10$
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): metric system
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): metric system