A small metallic cylinder, about the diameter of a golf ball, serves as the standard for the kilogram, the base unit of mass in the International System of Units.
Synopsis
A small metallic cylinder, about the diameter of a golf ball, serves as the standard for the kilogram, the base unit of mass in the International System of Units.
People
Synopsis
Inside a high-tech vault just outside Paris, a small metallic cylinder, roughly the size of a golf ball, sits encased in three vacuum-sealed bell jars. This object, the kilogram, serves as the base unit of mass in the International System of Units. It has played a crucial role in scientific advancements, including space exploration. Over time, its mass has changed, eroded by the weight of an eyelash, leading to a crisis in measurement standards. The Last Artifact details the efforts to redefine this essential unit.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- Find out why the kilogram is crucial for space missions.
- See how a tiny change can impact global measurements.
- Meet Miriam Margolyes as she narrates this vital story.
Did You Know
- The kilogram is stored in a vault requiring three independently controlled keys.
- The kilogram helped send humans to the moon and satellites into space.
- The mass of the kilogram has eroded over time, affected by an eyelash's weight.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the diameter of the metallic cylinder in the vault?
The metallic cylinder has a diameter about the size of a golf ball.
What is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units?
The base unit of mass in the International System of Units is the kilogram.
What caused a crisis related to the kilogram?
The mass of the kilogram mysteriously eroded over time, affected by the weight of an eyelash.
What are people saying?
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