Critical Analysis of the Definition of the Meter
Journal Title: Peer Reviewed Journal of Forensic & Genetic Sciences - Year 2018, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Defining the meter is an inavoidable step towards identifying the nature and properties of physical space. It turns out that the international definition of the meter raises some questionings, partly because of the vagueness and the inconsistency of the wordings. Given that length is a concept, we do not measure the length of an object, but we measure what separates its ends: the result of the measurement is called « length of the object . The Greek mathematician and geographer Eratosthenes (276-194) succeeded in evaluating the Earth circumference, by comparing the drop shadow of the same object in two different places. Strictly speaking, Eratosthenes did not measure the length of the shadows; instead he measured what separates their ends. The result of each measurement is called « length of the shadow ».In addition, the length of an object is a concept without physical existence as such. The definition of the length unit is the object of an impressive diachrony, as it is testified in the Manuel des Poids et Mesures published by A. Tarbé in 1840. The uniformity of weight and measurements was wished since a long time. This whish of Charlemagne, Philippe-le-Long (1321), Louis XI, François I (1540), Henri II (1557), Henri III (1575) and Louis XV (1766) had found insurmountable obstacles, owing to provincial prejudices and mainly local habits. However, there are only few abuses as much inconvenient as the diversity of measures, because it introduces uncertainty and mistrust.
Authors and Affiliations
Patrice F Dassonville
Keywords
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- EP ID EP634764
- DOI 10.32474/PRJFGS.2018.01.000101
- Views 212
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