tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Nov 08 17:38:41 1994
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Re: the qelI'qam, was Re: Nonexistent words ...?
On Tue, 8 Nov 1994, ...Paul wrote:
> To debunk a theory, the meter is NOT based on a portion of the Earth, it is,
> in fact, the distance that some particle travels through a vacuum in such-and-
> such time. Unfortunately, I don't know what the particle is, or how much
> time they allow it to travel. BUT. I do know that the distance is always
> the same, and thus is a very good way to accurately record a unit of distance.
>
To un-debunk a theory... The original meter was developed I believe as a
portion of the earth. It was only later, then they had the equiptment,
did they use the measurement of 300 cycle of a Hydrogen atom(or whatever
it is :-P) so they could have a Universaly unchangable constant.
1 gram probably started as the weight of a marble, but now it is the
mass of 1 cubic cm of water at 4 degrees celcuis. They refine, and
redefine the measurements, not change them. Originaly, there was a
platinum bar that was kept in France I think, that was the standard for 1
gram for the longest time.
OK... enough about nothing... :-)