World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of MeasurementThe epic story of the invention of a global network of weights, scales, and instruments for measurement. Millions of transactions each day depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. This network has been called a greater invention than the steam engine, comparable only to the development of the printing press.Robert P. Crease traces the evolution of this international system from the use of flutes to measure distance in the dynasties of ancient China and figurines to weigh gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems. The former prevailed, with the United States one of three holdout nations. Into this captivating history Crease weaves stories of colorful individuals, including Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of the metric system, and American philosopher Charles S. Peirce, the first to tie the meter to the wavelength of light. Tracing the dynamic struggle for ultimate precision, World in the Balance demonstrates that measurement is both stranger and more integral to our lives than we ever suspected. |
Contents
The Noonday Cannon | 13 |
Ancient China Feet and Flutes | 35 |
West Africa Gold Weights | 53 |
France Realities of Life and Labor | 69 |
Halting Steps Toward Universality | 99 |
One of the Greatest Triumphs | 126 |
Metrophilia and Metrophobia | 149 |
Surely Youre Joking Mr Duchamp | 167 |
Dreams of a Final Standard | 183 |
Universal System The SI | 210 |
The Modern Metroscape | 227 |
Au Revoir Kilogram | 249 |
EPILOGUE | 269 |
Illustration Credits | 295 |
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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest For An Absolute System Of Measurement Robert P Crease No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
Academy Adams African Akan American ancient artifact Ashanti atomic Avogadro Avogadro constant BIPM Britain British called century CGPM Charles China Chinese Coast committee Congress constant countries court created cultural Dale dards decimal defined diffraction gratings Dombey Duchamp dynasty earth electrical engineering European France French Garrard Gold Weights Guangming Halsey historian human idea imperial system inch Institute instruments International Prototype Jefferson kilogram Kula Le Brigand length standard light mass Mazzella measurement system ment meridian meter metric system metrologists metrology Michelson modern metroscape National natural standard Niangoran-Bouah official Paris Peirce Peirce's Phillips philosopher physics Planck constant political pound precision proposed Pyramid Qin Shi Huang Qing dynasty Quinn Revolution revolutionary ritual scales scholars scientific scientists seconds pendulum Society spectral lines Stoppages Survey system of weights threads tion toise traditional University Vitruvian watt balance wavelength weights and measures wrote York