Measuring Change: The French Revolution and the Birth of the Metric System

The video explores the connection between the French Revolution and NASA's Mars orbiter crash, highlighting the importance of standardized measurement systems. It traces the history of measurement systems, the creation of the metric system during the French Revolution, and its global spread. Despite resistance, particularly in the US and UK, the metric system is now widely used in science and continues to evolve with modern technology.

What was the main reason for NASA's Mars orbiter crash?

• A communication failure

• A fuel shortage

• A software bug

• A measurement conversion error

Which number system replaced Roman numerals in Europe by the late Middle Ages?

• Egyptian system

• Babylonian system

• Hindu-Arabic decimal system

• Binary system

What was the meter originally defined as during the French Revolution?

• The length of a king's foot

• 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the Equator to the North Pole

• The length of a pendulum with a one-second period

• The distance between two cities in France

What was one political advantage of standardizing measurements during the French Revolution?

• It reduced the need for military forces

• It enabled more efficient tax collection

• It allowed nobles to collect more rent

• It increased church power

What was one of the reasons for the initial difficulty in adopting the metric system in France?

• Confusion with old units

• Lack of government support

• Resistance from the church

• High cost of implementation

What was the impact of the French Revolution on the calendar system?

• It doubled the number of holidays

• It created a Republican Calendar with ten-day weeks

• It eliminated weekends

• It introduced a 12-day week

Which country resisted the metric system due to its revolutionary origins?

• Germany

• Italy

• Britain

• Spain

Why did the United States not fully adopt the metric system?

• It was incompatible with technology

• It was banned by law

• It was seen as less intuitive

• It was too expensive

Which of the following is NOT a country that has fully embraced the metric system?

• United States

• France

• Germany

• Japan

What is a modern basis for defining standard units in the metric system?

• Arbitrary authority

• Local traditions

• Universal constants

• Physical prototypes