Posted on 04/20/2008 5:58:33 PM PDT by BGHater
In the more than a century since 'perfect' platinum-iridium cylinders were first used as the world's kilogram standards, their weights have mysteriously fluctuated. Scientists are rethinking what the measure means.
GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- Forty feet underground, secured in a temperature- and humidity-controlled vault here, lies Kilogram No. 20.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
To which the proper reply is ..
"Why Nooo honey, you look just fine. What's a silly kilogram anyway?"
(Steak dinner, perfumed bed, a little late getting to a very deep and satisfied sleep .... mmmmmmmmmmm.)
You could’ve been on Star Trek... except for that last part.
‘Tis a true fact that many things that come out of Europe are not bad. Including the SI system and Fitna. But everything else... nevermind.
Does that make sense?
The problem with that theory is that they collect the samples together in one place to compare them, and that's how they know they've changed. My guess is that some of the caretakers have been using them as paperweights.
1 silly kilogram = 2.205 lbs. (please tell NASA)
9:00 to 10:00 AM - coffee
10:01 check on kilogram
10:02 to 11:00 - chat with co-workers
11:00 to 12:00 - Get ready for lunch
Scientific proof:
LOL. Well considering he wasn’t able to prevent No. 20. from changing it might be real stressful right now :-)
Thank you. I’m done talking now.
Thank you for illustrating Ben Stein’s point...
The different national prototype kilograms are varying from the international prototype kilogram, and from each other. By values, by the way, which represent exceedingly tiny amounts. If the International Prototype Kilogram masses exactly 1 kg, the United States Prototype Kilogram masses 1.000000019 kg.
I yield second place to no man in my disgust for the French. But the plain and simple truth is that SI is superior to the archaic, illogical system we use in the United States, despite the fact that it was invented in France. Ignoramuses and xenophobes blocked its adoption here, which has the result of putting American children at a disadvantage in the sciences... since scientists worldwide use SI, but non-American scientists have an intuitive grasp for the mass of a kilogram or the length of a meter that was developed since birth. And I see this same ignorance and xenophobia on display in this very thread by people who apparently are unaware that the pound is defined in terms of the kilogram, you blockheads.
I'm going to find it hard to get used to formulas like:
s = .5 * YeaMuch ** 2
Expansion of the universe.
“Doesnt that really mean everything else in the universe had their weight fluctuate?”
That probably is what is causing such a stir.
I would think, in order of likelihood, one of the following is true:
1. The discrepancy is smaller than the margin of error of whatever method they are using to measure it,
2. The weight wasn’t THAT precicely weighted to begin with,
3. There was some undiscovered source of wear/corrosion,
or,
maybe 20. There is some undiscovered principle of physics causing the change. Not impossible, but pretty unlikely.
That may be true. But why did it effect every one differently?
I think they need to take a couple of these and ship them to each other’s locations, and see if they are the same when measured in the same location.
Otherwise, there’s something strange going on.
But isn’t the interesting thing that we thought we had sealed these objects in a way that would prevent them from changing mass, and yet they seem to be changing mass, and in different amounts?
This is an interesting anomaly, much like the Pioneer spacecraft being off-course. There must be an explanation, but surely there are scientists who will not rest until they KNOW that explanation.
“You were told that SI is superior to Imperial because it is.”
Is that why aeronautics uses SI? Oh, wait, it doesn’t. SI is just another measurement of lengths and weight chosen as random as anything else. It just uses easy to use factors, not easy to use measurements, mind you, just factors.
Also note that different locations over the globe have dfferent gavitic constants
The moon effects the gravity on earth, causing slight flutuations. The moon which is drifting further away from earth slighty each year, It stands to reason that would have a slight effect on gravity.
“I yield second place to no man in my disgust for the French. But the plain and simple truth is that SI is superior to the archaic, illogical system we use in the United States, despite the fact that it was invented in France. Ignoramuses and xenophobes blocked its adoption here, which has the result of putting American children at a disadvantage in the sciences... since scientists worldwide use SI, but non-American scientists have an intuitive grasp for the mass of a kilogram or the length of a meter that was developed since birth. And I see this same ignorance and xenophobia on display in this very thread by people who apparently are unaware that the pound is defined in terms of the kilogram, you blockheads.
“
So much ignorance in one paragraph. Kids have an “intuitive grasp” of the meter and kilo?? Really? What was their basis of knowledge, their ability to see light travel and accurately define it to 3Mm/s??
My 14-year-old son just suggested that the weight differential might be caused by the decay of radioactive isotopes in the material. What say you?
p.s. yes, we homeschool.
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