5 ms·
On this topic, I recommend reading "Measure of All Things" by Ken Alder. It is a book about the origins of the metric system and how it is partially based on fo
by julienchastang 6y ago
On this topic, I recommend reading "Measure of All Things" by Ken Alder. It is a book about the origins of the metric system and how it is partially based on forged data. Méchain did not trust his own excellent surveying observations (the meter was defined as a 1/10^7 from equator to N. pole so they surveyed a fraction of the prime meridian) and modern error analysis did not exist yet thus he made up results to make himself look good. You can get it for $4 used at Abe Books.