Re:Why scientists are redefining the kilogram
by falcolas on Thursday October 26, 2017 @10:08AM
(#15558910)
> Does anyone have an example of where a change like this would be important?
Well, it's important today, because the reference samples used across the world have drifted apart, and not in a consistent fashion. Which raises the question of whether the exemplar kg has drifted as well.
So, we don't really know if the kg we're using today is the same kg we were using 10 years ago. Given how important mass is to many scientific calculations, a drifting standard could directly impact all the other work we do.
Well, it's important today, because the reference samples used across the world have drifted apart, and not in a consistent fashion. Which raises the question of whether the exemplar kg has drifted as well.
So, we don't really know if the kg we're using today is the same kg we were using 10 years ago. Given how important mass is to many scientific calculations, a drifting standard could directly impact all the other work we do.
I found the Veritasium video to be a bit more interesting for the "why" aspect of this change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo0jm1PPRuo