Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scientists aiming to redefine the kilogram
TheLocal.de ^ | 27 Mar 2015 17:59 GMT+01:00 | Matty Edwards

Posted on 03/28/2015 1:24:25 AM PDT by Olog-hai

The German Nation Metrology Institute (PTB) in Braunschweig has set itself the enormous task of finding a new formula for measuring a kilogram.

The weight is currently based on a metal cylinder called the International Prototype Kilogram that is kept in a safe in Paris.

The problem is that the precious object is—very gradually—losing weight, according to scientists. […]

A race is now underway between scientists around the world to find a way of defining an unchangeable kilogram without relying on a lump of metal, which is unsurprisingly rather complicated.

Researchers at the PTB in Braunschweig claim to be very close to a solution. They are developing the world’s roundest and smoothest sphere. …

(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.de ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Science
KEYWORDS: braunschweig; germany; kilogram; metricsystem; metrology; stringtheory
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-60 next last
Reporters don’t typically get that the kilogram unit of measure is one of mass and not of weight (which is a force measurement); a kilogram is still a kilogram in a weightless environment. The newton is the force measurement, and a kilo is 9.8 newtons on the surface of the earth.
1 posted on 03/28/2015 1:24:26 AM PDT by Olog-hai
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai
> Reporters don’t typically get that the kilogram unit of measure is one of mass and not of weight ...

They also manage to conflate speed (a scalar) and velocity (a vector), energy and power, and on and on....

I wish the scientists all the best luck in their quest for the unchanging kilo. An esoteric problem if ever there was one.

2 posted on 03/28/2015 1:33:06 AM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is...sounding pretty good about now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

They tried a kilo of coke....but it lost weight even faster....

*rimshot*


3 posted on 03/28/2015 1:35:23 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '16)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Using the metric system, one hundred kilograms should equal the largest unit of measurement we have, the Rosie O’Donnell. Just use that as the standard.


4 posted on 03/28/2015 1:38:16 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai
"Developing the perfectly round and flat sphere"?

I can see how that will be a difficult task!

5 posted on 03/28/2015 2:24:54 AM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not A Matter of Opinion)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SWAMPSNIPER

I wonder if they have Mr. Mxyzptlk’s phone number.


6 posted on 03/28/2015 2:30:22 AM PDT by Olog-hai
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Telepathic Intruder

The US should propose to use the Cankle in leiu of the gram.


7 posted on 03/28/2015 2:31:25 AM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

I wonder if the writer had a clue, about anything.


8 posted on 03/28/2015 2:34:32 AM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not A Matter of Opinion)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Crim

Reminds me of:

“I used to have a DeLorean, but the damned thing wouldn’t stay in the lane. It kept driving down the middle of the road trying to snort the white line”


9 posted on 03/28/2015 2:35:24 AM PDT by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

“A pint’s a pound, the world around.” There, problem solved.


10 posted on 03/28/2015 2:38:43 AM PDT by steve8714 (Traditional Catholics want Latin Mass. Traditional Muslims want your head.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Equator or one of the poles? Mountain or sea level?


11 posted on 03/28/2015 2:49:04 AM PDT by monocle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

I hope that the NEW kilogram will drop the sexism, racism, and bigotry of the current kilogram which is a product of dead white European males. It is way beyond time to fundamentally transform the kilogram.


12 posted on 03/28/2015 3:00:06 AM PDT by Flash Bazbeaux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

It’s been many years since school but I thought a gram was the weight of 1 cc of H2O at 72°F.


13 posted on 03/28/2015 3:23:31 AM PDT by DocRock (All they that TAKE the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52 Gun grabbers beware.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SWAMPSNIPER

I’ve always called a roundd flat sphere a disk.


14 posted on 03/28/2015 3:31:48 AM PDT by DainBramage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DocRock

Yup. And 0ne liter of water is one kilogram at Standard Temperature and Pressure.


15 posted on 03/28/2015 3:33:06 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Thus and such many atoms of thus and such an isotope — one of the easiest things in principle if not in practice. There has to be more to the story than this.


16 posted on 03/28/2015 3:33:53 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

International Prototype Kilogram

Of possible interest to your list, ping.

17 posted on 03/28/2015 3:34:18 AM PDT by NYer (Without justice - what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SWAMPSNIPER

Flat? The word was “smooth.” A ball.

That is one way of counting atoms; another way would be to create a cylinder. What makes a disc disc-y? A certain proportion between its dimensions?

For silicon, a particular isotope would be needed in order to pin down the precision satisfactorily.


18 posted on 03/28/2015 4:01:49 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

I’ve often wondered that if the space inside atoms was expanding, how would we ever know, since everything would be expanding at the same rate.


19 posted on 03/28/2015 4:10:59 AM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HiTech RedNeck

They called the sphere smooth at the beginning of the article and flat at the end of it. A centrifuge was used to separate isotopes, so the sphere would be exceptionally pure.

http://www.nist.gov/pml/si-redef/kg_new_silicon.cfm


20 posted on 03/28/2015 4:14:14 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (This is known as "bad luck". - Robert A. Heinlein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-60 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson