The Science Show Lab Notes: Why a metre is a metre long
May 20, 2025
Bruce Warrington, CEO and Chief Metrologist of the National Measurement Institute, dives into the fascinating world of measurement. He discusses the historical significance of the Treaty of the Metre, which unified global measurement standards. Listeners will learn how the metric system emerged during the French Revolution and the challenges in defining the metre. Warrington explains the shift from physical lengths to atomic precision and underscores the crucial role accurate measurements play in everything from manufacturing to everyday life.
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Original Metre Definition
- The metre was originally defined as one ten-millionth the distance from the North Pole to the equator through Paris.
- The kilogram was then defined by the mass of a litre of water related to that metre.
International Metre Treaty
- The Treaty of the Metre created an international agreement for a uniform measurement language.
- This enabled consistent trade and scientific collaboration across nations.
Australia's Gauge Challenge
- Australia's early non-uniform railway gauges caused costly operational problems.
- National standardization was essential to unify transport and improve efficiency.