Various Systems of Units

In order to have uniformity and accuracy it is necessary to accept a certain system of

units everywhere in the world. For this purpose, fundamental quantities, their definite and
standard units have to be decided. Also these units should be clearly defined.

In the study of science we use many quantities. Some of them are related to each other.
For example speed is the ratio of length and time, density is the ratio of mass and volume,
momentum is the product of mass and velocity. (We will study momentum later). Thus
for system of units we have to select a few minimum quantities such that other quantities
can be derived from these selected ones. These minimum quantities are known as
fundamental quantities or base quantities . Units of these fundamental quantities are
known as fundamental units or base units. The quantities obtained from these base units
are known as derived quantities and their units are known as derived units. In table 1.7
fundamental quantities and their units for various systems of units are given.

Table 1.7

Various system of units for measurement

Unit system Fundamental quantities Fundamental units

FPS System (British system) Length, mass, time ' foot, pound, second

CGS System Length, mass, time centimetre, gram,

second

MKS system (Metric System) Length, mass, time metre kilogram,

second

MKS A System (George System) Length, mass, time electric current metre, kilogram,
second Ampere

As Apart from these units in CGS system electro-magnetic unit system (emu),
electrostratic units (esu) Gaussian systemf were also included. In thermodynamics British
thermal units (btu) were also used. (Don't worry much about this, it is for information
only)

How a unit should be ?

To know about how a unit should be, let us perform an activity:

Activity 2 :
Stand erect near a wall and mark your height on the wall. Now measure your height using
various units like, finger, span, centimetre, inch, foot, yard, and metre. Request your
friends also to measure the same height with these units. What is the result ? Here you
can note that measurement taken in centimetre, yard, foot, inch and metre are found to be
same. But measures in terms of finger and span are different. Let us understand another,
important matter. Using conversion formulae, convert inch-measure of height into foot
and yard. Also convert centimetre-measure in metre Which of these can be done easily ?
Why is it so ? Now can you say, how should a unit be ?

So, unit of a quantity should have the following characteristics :

(1) Measure of a standard pnit should be invariant,' in all conditions.

(2) Unit should be defined on scientific basis.

(3) Unit and its standard measure should be trustworthy and universally acceptable. v-

(4) A copy of the standard measure of the unit should be easily possible.

(5) Accurate measurement should be possible by the unit. Unit should not be ambiguous.

(6) It should be user-friendy in day to day life.

(7) Unit should be based on a system in which conversions are easy. (Conversions should
not be complicated and boring)

Need of Universal system of measurement

Why is an exact, trust worthy, uniform and universal system of measurement needed ? If
you think you will realise the need of such a system...

— for development of science and technology.

— for accuracy and uniformity in scientific research.

— to solve mysteries of nature.

— for manufacturing efficient machines equipment, and their tiny parts.;

— to be able to use machines made in countries and to be able to use its small parts.

— to carry out international trade easily.

— for easy comparison.

— for getting rid of complicated and boring calculations by using convension formulae.
The International System of Units
Considering both the points mentioned above, experienced scientists felt a dire need of
uniform, standard, trustworthy and well acceptable units, in the world. As a
consequence,. International system of units was accepted in 1971 by the 14th General
Conference on Weights and Measures under the leadership of International Bureau of
Weights and Measures, situated at Sevrs near Paris. In ftench, it is called be Le Systeme
Internationale {/'unites. So in short it is called SI system also. In science and technology
all the units mentioned in table 1-7 are replaced by SI units. In SI system seven quantities
are accepted as fundamental quantities. In table 1.8 these quantities and their units are
mentioned, along with their symbols.

In SI system of units plane angle, solid angle and radio activity are accepted as
supplementary quantities. Their units, known as supplementary units, are radian (rad),
steradiam (sr) and curie (ci).

Table 1.8

S.I Unit system

System
Tabk SI - Unit '
No. Fundamental Symbol
Fundamental
Quantity
Unit
(1) Length Metre m
(2) mass kilogram g
3) time Second s
(4) electric current ampere A
thermodynamic
(5) kelvin K
temperature
Luminous
(6) candela cd
intensity
Quantity of
(7) mole mo
matter

You don't have to worry about the definitions of units and supplimentary units of SI
system. You will study these definition in std 11, if you opt for science stream.
Guidelines for using symbols for SI units