Try asking the question another way, and the answer becomes more apparent.
Why is the base unit called the kilogram and not the xxxxx? Why is it gram and not millixxxxx? There has been some debate, here, as to what xxxxx should be called. In the transition, many years ago, from the cgs (centimeter/gram/second) to the mks (meter/kilogram/second) system, the base units were chosen in order that derived units would be of a manageable size (unlike the minuscule dynes, ergs, etc. of the cgs system). Just as the cgs system included one prefixed unit (the cm), the mks system also did (kg). In the evolution from mks to mksA to SI, the kilogram could easily have been replaced by an unprefixed unit with a new name (but the same value). Unfortunately it wasn't and there is no clear indication of whether it ever will. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On > Behalf Of David Owen > Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 07:00 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:21413] Re: Millilitres vs centilitres > > > Here's a dumb question. Why is the base unit of mass the kilogram rather > than the gram? David Owen > >
