In toto, the proposal redefines not only the kilogram but the mole, coulomb (and hence the ampere), and kelvin. He may be referring to the whole proposal, not just the kilogram, which is what has grabbed the media.
________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, January 29, 2011 12:46:38 PM Subject: [USMA:49674] Re: Le Grand K Terry Quinn uses the plural "definitions" not the singular, for Le Grand K alone. Let's give Terry the benefit of any doubts of the values of the Xs (plural) in the new definitions of the fundamental constants yet to be established. Gene. ---- Original message ---- >Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:44:43 +1100 >From: Pat Naughtin <[email protected]> >Subject: [USMA:49662] Le Grand K >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > > Dear Al, > What will be the mass of the new kilogram as > realised by the NIST watt metre? Will it try for the > original mass of Le Grand K plus 50 micrograms or > will the watt balance use the present mass of Le > Grand K assuming that other secondary standards have > lost 50 micrograms? > I haven't seen any reference to the mass of the > kilogram in any of the media. They seem more > fascinated by the idea of a kilogram "weight" and by > Terry Quinn's strange quote: > "The new definitions are "as big a change as the > introduction of the metric system during the French > Revolution," says Terry Quinn, a dapper Briton who > organized the seminar and once served as director of > the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, > which ensures world-wide uniformity of > measurements." > Presumably the dapperness is important! The quote > seems to me to be way over the top. >... > Cheers, > Pat Naughtin LCAMS > ...
