Difference between revisions of "Metre"

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The '''metre''' (symbol: '''m'''), also spelled '''meter''' in the United States, is the [[SI unit]] of [[length]] and one of the seven [[base unit]]s in the [[International System of Units]]. The name is derived from the Greek μέτρον (''metron'') meaning "measure", and gives rise to the term "[[metric system]]", a system of units of which the metre is one.
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{{TOCright}}
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The '''metre''' (symbol: '''m'''), spelled '''meter''' in the United States, is the [[SI unit]] of [[length]] and one of the seven [[base unit]]s in the [[International System of Units]]. The name is derived from the Greek μέτρον (''metron'') meaning "measure", and gives rise to the term "[[metric system]]", a system of units of which the metre is one.
  
 
The metre was conceived in the aftermath of the French Revolution (1789) as a replacement for the old units of length that were associated with the ''ancien régime''. Although there was initially considerable resistance to the adoption of the new units in France (including an official reversion to the ''[[mesures usuelles]]'' ["normal units"] for a period), the metre gained following in continental Europe during the mid nineteenth century, particularly in scientific usage, and was consacrated as an international measurement unit by the [[Metre Convention]] of 1875.
 
The metre was conceived in the aftermath of the French Revolution (1789) as a replacement for the old units of length that were associated with the ''ancien régime''. Although there was initially considerable resistance to the adoption of the new units in France (including an official reversion to the ''[[mesures usuelles]]'' ["normal units"] for a period), the metre gained following in continental Europe during the mid nineteenth century, particularly in scientific usage, and was consacrated as an international measurement unit by the [[Metre Convention]] of 1875.
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The current definition of the metre was agreed at the 17th&nbsp;[[General Conference on Weights and Measures]] (CGPM) in 1983:<ref>{{SIbrochure8th|page=112}}.</ref>
 
The current definition of the metre was agreed at the 17th&nbsp;[[General Conference on Weights and Measures]] (CGPM) in 1983:<ref>{{SIbrochure8th|page=112}}.</ref>
 
{{quotation|The metre is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of {{nowrap|1/299 792 458}} of a second.}}
 
{{quotation|The metre is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of {{nowrap|1/299 792 458}} of a second.}}
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This definition has the effect that the [[speed of light]] in vacuum has an exact, defined value in [[SI units]]: {{nowrap|299 792 458&nbsp;m s<sup>−1</sup>.
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===Relativity===
  
 
==Realization==
 
==Realization==
 
The metre can be realized either directly, by measuring the time taken for light to travel a certain distance, or by [[interferometry]].<ref>Recommendation 1 (CI-2002), [http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/CIPM2002-EN.pdf 91st Meeting of the International Committee on Weights and Measures], 2002.</ref><ref name="MeP">{{citation | title = ''Mise en pratique'' for the definition of the metre | url = http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/appendix2/mep.html | publisher = Interntional Bureau for Weights and Measures | date = 2009 | accessdate = 2010-08-13}}.</ref>
 
The metre can be realized either directly, by measuring the time taken for light to travel a certain distance, or by [[interferometry]].<ref>Recommendation 1 (CI-2002), [http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/CIPM2002-EN.pdf 91st Meeting of the International Committee on Weights and Measures], 2002.</ref><ref name="MeP">{{citation | title = ''Mise en pratique'' for the definition of the metre | url = http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/appendix2/mep.html | publisher = Interntional Bureau for Weights and Measures | date = 2009 | accessdate = 2010-08-13}}.</ref>
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===Time-of-flight measurements===
  
 
===Interferometry===
 
===Interferometry===
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:''λ'' = 632.990 8 nm
 
:''λ'' = 632.990 8 nm
 
:''u''<sub>r</sub> = 1.5{{e|−6}}
 
:''u''<sub>r</sub> = 1.5{{e|−6}}
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==History==
  
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==

Revision as of 08:12, 13 August 2010

The metre (symbol: m), spelled meter in the United States, is the SI unit of length and one of the seven base units in the International System of Units. The name is derived from the Greek μέτρον (metron) meaning "measure", and gives rise to the term "metric system", a system of units of which the metre is one.

The metre was conceived in the aftermath of the French Revolution (1789) as a replacement for the old units of length that were associated with the ancien régime. Although there was initially considerable resistance to the adoption of the new units in France (including an official reversion to the mesures usuelles ["normal units"] for a period), the metre gained following in continental Europe during the mid nineteenth century, particularly in scientific usage, and was consacrated as an international measurement unit by the Metre Convention of 1875.

Definition

The current definition of the metre was agreed at the 17th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1983:[1]

The metre is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second.

This definition has the effect that the speed of light in vacuum has an exact, defined value in SI units: {{nowrap|299 792 458 m s−1.

Relativity

Realization

The metre can be realized either directly, by measuring the time taken for light to travel a certain distance, or by interferometry.[2][3]

Time-of-flight measurements

Interferometry

Source Stabilizing line (127I2) Frequency
THz 		Wavelength
nm 		ur
Helium–neon laser a16 component, R(127) 11-5 transition 473.612 353 604(10) 632.991 212 579(13) 2.1 × 10−11
Nd:YAG laser a10 component, R(56) 32-0 transition 563.260 223 513(5) 532.245 036 104(5) 8.9 × 10−12

For an unstabilized helium–neon laser (Ne 3s2→2p4 transition):[4]

f = 473.612 7 THz
λ = 632.990 8 nm
ur = 1.5 × 10−6

History

Notes and references

Notes

References

  1. ↑ The International System of Units (SI), 8th ed.; International Bureau of Weights and Measures: Sèvres, France, 2006; p 112. ISBN 92-822-2213-6, <http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/si_brochure_8_en.pdf>.
  2. ↑ Recommendation 1 (CI-2002), 91st Meeting of the International Committee on Weights and Measures, 2002.
  3. ↑ Mise en pratique for the definition of the metre; Interntional Bureau for Weights and Measures, 2009, <http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/appendix2/mep.html>. (accessed 13 August 2010).
  4. ↑ Recommendation 2 (CI-2007), 96th Meeting of the International Committee on Weights and Measures, 2007.

External links

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