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Some singular SI units are arbitrary, such as the meter. Some are less arbitrary, such as the Celcius. But the most important aspect of SI units is that they
by nightcracker 10y ago
Some singular SI units are arbitrary, such as the meter.
Some are less arbitrary, such as the Celcius.
But the most important aspect of SI units is that they form a system which is coherent _together_, and makes it easy to convert/calculate with.
- grogenaut 10y agoCelsius is based on freezing point of water at sea level. That's about as arbitrary as the circumference of the earth. The multiples of ten, divide by ten is a very nice feature. But if you think about it, base 10 is still arbitrary and human centric. It's based on the fact that we have 10 fingers. Not some universal constant.
- hardlianotion 10y agoAt the moment, we are pursuing an agile approach to standards setting. The base 10 thing is very useful for human computation. Perhaps when that changes or our alien overlords make the point moot, we can have something more universally acceptable.
- notahacker 10y agoThe average person in the developed world owns a device whose capacity to freeze stuff is dependent on it being just below zero celsius and a device whose capacity to keep it cool whilst not accidentally freezing it is dependent on it being just above zero celsius. That's a little less arbitrary than fractions of the circumference of the earth, or the coldest temperature in Danzig in winter 1708/9. (Weather ranges and human temperature preferences are also a lot more subjective)
- yxhuvud 10y agoWhile using 10 is arbitrary, having a constant factor is really nice, as is having the same factor as is used for scaling numbers.
- thomasz 10y ago> The metre was originally defined in 1793 as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre