News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Why scientists are redefining the kilogram by ajross on Thursday October 26, 2017 @10:55AM (#15559350)
The most interesting takeaway from this article for me isn't the kilogram, which is obvious and makes sense, but that the mole is being redefined.

A "mole" is a unitless quantity. Literally it's just a number. I'm just dumbfounded that when they defined it, they didn't just pick an actual number but referenced an experiment to define it. Now it's a number.

Re:Why scientists are redefining the kilogram by kazinator on Thursday October 26, 2017 @03:17PM (#15562106)
I guess that the problem with Avogadro's number (and others such, like the Coulomb) is that they are approximations and not specific counts.

The difference between the Avogadro Number and the new Avogadro Constant is that they will define it as a concrete integer value: 6.02NNNN... x 10^23. When the digits are agreed upon, I think the idea is that all subsequent digits are going to be defined as zero, making it a precise integer.

So then if it is a precise integer, we can then try construct objects with exactly that many particles (silicon atoms) and then weigh them, and so forth: masses can be tied to precise counts.

It's kind of analogous to declaring that an inch is exactly 2.54 mm: 2.54000000... not 2.5400XXX for some unknown X that is somehow empirically measured.

Re:Why scientists are redefining the kilogram by Osmium on Thursday October 26, 2017 @02:21PM (#15561560)
> A "mole" is a unitless quantity. Literally it's just a number.

True, but it's defined relative to the kg. It's the quantity of Carbon-12 atoms in 12g of Carbon-12.

As for why it isn't an 'simpler' number, it's because if you want a standardized definition of something you have to have a reliable reference. Which is precisely why the kg itself is being redefined.

Side-note: the act of creating this ultra-pure kg of Si-28 has actually created a lot of useful science in its own right, which is nice.

Re:Why scientists are redefining the kilogram by ISL on Thursday October 26, 2017 @02:11PM (#15561483)
If they had picked a number, it would have redefined the kilogram (or, indirectly, Planck's constant), breaking the SI unit system as it was then (and now) defined.

Pull on one thread, and all the others may move.

Also of note with this change -- the amu will unlock from Carbon-12.