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Re:International System of Units overhauled in historic vote by simcop2387 on Friday November 16, 2018 @02:10PM (#18471139)
Essentially this brings it one more step away from using another artifact for calibrating things. Instead this lets us define the kilogram against what we believe are universal constants, in this case properties about the electromagnetic force.

It's much simpler to understand looking at it with a watt balance, even though it's not going to be as precise or accurate as a kibble balance [1]. Basically now anyone with access to a kibble balance and the right set of numbers/information can make an exact 1kg object.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewQkE8t0xgQ

Re:International System of Units overhauled in historic vote by mjevans on Friday November 16, 2018 @04:47PM (#18472234)
Or potentially more usefully, ascertain an accurate measurement of how closely a given measuring device is to the target to calibrate it's use in actual measurements (outside of the expensive validation mechanisms).
Re:International System of Units overhauled in historic vote by coder543 on Friday November 16, 2018 @04:46PM (#18472229)
I'm pretty sure a watt balance and a Kibble balance are the same thing. Regardless, that YouTube video is so good! I was just about to post the same link.