How the Meter Became The Meter

The video explores the history and evolution of the meter, a fundamental unit of the metric system. Initially defined as a fraction of the Earth's meridian, the meter faced challenges due to Earth's irregular shape. Despite errors, it was redefined using atomic wavelengths and the speed of light, maintaining its status as a universal measure. The video highlights the meter's revolutionary impact on science and society.

What was the main issue with France's system of weights and measures before the metric system?

• It was inconsistent and varied greatly between regions.

• It was based on the metric system.

• It was uniform across all regions.

• It was too simple and easy to understand.

What was one of the initial ideas for defining the meter during the French Revolution?

• The length of a king's arm

• The height of the Eiffel Tower

• The distance light travels in a second

• The length of a pendulum swinging once per second

What method did the scientists use to measure the Earth to define the meter?

• Calculating the distance between stars

• Using a 1,000 kilometer tape measure

• Marking a series of triangles across France

• Measuring the height of mountains

What was the main problem with the original definition of the meter?

• It was not based on any scientific principle

• It was too short

• It was based on an incorrect measurement of Earth's curvature

• It was too long

How was the meter redefined in 1960?

• As a number of atomic wavelengths

• As the length of a king's arm

• As the height of the Eiffel Tower

• As the distance light travels in a second

What is the current definition of the meter based on?

• The length of a pendulum

• The distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second

• The height of the Eiffel Tower

• The length of a king's arm

Why is the meter considered an invention rather than a natural constant?

• Because it does not naturally emerge from the basic laws of the universe

• Because it was defined by a king

• Because it is too short

• Because it is based on the height of the Eiffel Tower