This is a fun look at how science is working to create a new standard from which to base the kilogram. Derek Alexander Muller of Veritasium shows us the world’s roundest object.
From the video:
The world’s roundest object helps solve the longest running problem in measurement — how to define the kilogram.
A kilogram isn’t what it used to be. Literally. The original name for it was the ‘grave’, proposed in 1793 but it fell victim to the French Revolution like its creator, Lavoisier. So begins the tale of the most unusual SI unit. The kilogram is the only base unit with a prefix in its name, and the only one still defined by a physical artifact, the international prototype kilogram or IPK.
++++++
Image credit: Adobe Stock Images
Last October scientists agreed that the sphere in this video — along with another just like it, and calculations of Planck’s constant using a watt balance — were accurate enough to redefine the kilogram.
However, just to be extra-double-special sure, they’re going to repeat the calculations with three more spheres like this one. They should reach a final decision on redefining the kilogram by next May.
Cool! Thanks for the update. I wasn’t aware that there was more to the initiative.
I am eagerly awaiting the conference in Fall 2018 to make the change.