History of Measurements

Summary

This video script delves into the fascinating history of measurement units, from ancient Egyptian Cubit to modern metric system. It highlights how units like the fathom, handspan, and pace evolved with human needs. The script also underscores the importance of standardization, exemplified by the meter's origin from Earth's circumference. It cautions the perils of unit confusion, citing the Mars Climate Orbiter mishap. Historical notes on Fahrenheit and Celsius scales add context. The narrative concludes with the amusing tale of the 'Smoot,' an MIT student's height used to measure a bridge, emphasizing the human element in measurement systems.

Takeaways

• 📏 The Cubit was an ancient Egyptian unit of measurement, from elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
• 🌊 The Fathom was used by seamen to measure water depth, from fingertip to fingertip with arms stretched.
• 🐎 The Handspan was used to measure the height of horses, from the tip of the pinky to the thumb.
• 🏃‍♂️ The Pace was a Roman military measurement for speed, equal to the length of an individual's foot.
• 👑 King Henry I standardized the pace because his foot was 12 inches long.
• 📏 The Girth was used to measure fishing line, equivalent to the measurement around one's stomach.
• 🤚 The Palm was the width of four fingers placed together.
• 🔄 The need for standardized units arose with trade and taxation, leading to the creation of standardized weights and measures.
• 📏 The early English inch was defined as the length of three barley corns laid end to end.
• 🌐 The meter was originally defined as 1/10,000,000 of the Earth's circumference from the equator to the North Pole.
• 💧 The liter was derived from the meter by taking 10 cm and multiplying its length, width, and height to get a volume measure.
• 📊 The gram was defined as the mass of 1 cubic cm of water.

Q & A

What is a Cubit, and how was it used by the Egyptians?

A Cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger when the arm is extended. It was used by the Egyptians to build the pyramids.

How is the fathom defined, and what was its practical use?

A fathom is the distance from fingertip to fingertip when both arms are stretched sideways. It was used by seamen to measure water depth to prevent boats from running aground.

What does 'hand span' refer to, and where is it commonly used?

Hand span refers to the distance from the tip of the pinky to the tip of the thumb when the hand is stretched out. It is commonly used to measure the height of horses.

What is the origin of the term 'pace' and how is it used?

The term 'pace' originated from the Roman army, where it was used to judge speed. It refers to the distance covered by one step and is still used in foot races today.

Why was King Henry I's foot important in standardizing measurements?

King Henry I standardized the measurement of a foot to be 12 inches, based on the length of his own foot.

What is the 'palm' measurement, and how is it calculated?

The 'palm' is the width of four fingers when placed together.

How did scientists define the length of the meter during the 18th century?

Scientists measured the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole and divided it into 10 million parts, establishing the length of the meter.

What was the cause of the Mars Climate Orbiter disaster in 1999?

The Mars Climate Orbiter was lost due to confusion between English and metric units. Teams from different facilities were unknowingly exchanging vital information in different unit systems.

What is the historical significance of the Smoot measurement?

The Smoot is a unit of measurement derived from Oliver R. Smoot’s height, used to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge in 1958. It became a local legend and a standard unit for the bridge.

How did the mix-up between metric and English units affect Air Canada Flight 143 in 1983?

Air Canada Flight 143 ran out of fuel mid-flight due to a misunderstanding between metric units and English units for fuel calculations. The crew used incorrect conversions, leading to a fuel shortage.

Outlines

00:00

📏 Early Measurement Techniques

This paragraph discusses the history of early measurement techniques, beginning with the Cubit used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. It also covers various units like the fathom for measuring water depth, the handspan for horse height, the pace used by the Roman army, and the foot standardized by King Henry I. Each unit is explained with respect to how it relates to the human body or its application in daily life.

05:01

✈️ Metric System Mistakes in Aviation and Space

This paragraph presents two major incidents caused by confusion between metric and English units. The first incident is the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter due to a miscommunication of units between two teams. The second is an Air Canada flight running out of fuel mid-flight because the crew used the wrong conversion factor for fuel calculations. Both highlight the critical importance of standardized measurements in modern technology.

10:04

📐 The Smoot and the Birth of a New Unit of Measure

This paragraph tells the humorous origin of the 'Smoot' as a unit of measurement. Oliver R. Smoot, an MIT student, was used to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge as part of a fraternity pledge task. His height, 5'7", became a unique unit called the Smoot. The bridge's length was determined to be 364.5 Smoots, and this unit gained local recognition. Despite resurfacing work on the bridge, the Smoot markings were preserved as part of local history.

Keywords

💡Cubit

The Cubit is an ancient unit of length that was used by the Egyptians to build the pyramids. It is defined as the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger when the arm is fully extended. This measurement is significant in the video as it illustrates how early civilizations used human body parts to create standardized units of measurement. The Cubit is an example of how early measurement systems were closely tied to the human body.

💡Fathom

A Fathom is a traditional unit of length used by seamen to measure the depth of water to prevent their boats from running aground. It is the distance from the tip of one fingertip to the tip of the other when the arms are outstretched. The Fathom is highlighted in the video to show how certain professions developed specific measurement units that were practical for their needs, emphasizing the evolution of measurement systems based on practical applications.

💡Handspan

The Handspan is a unit of length that measures the distance from the tip of the pinky to the tip of the thumb when the hand is fully extended. It is still used today to describe the height of horses. In the video, the Handspan serves as an example of how some traditional measurements continue to be used in modern contexts, demonstrating the longevity and adaptability of certain measurement units.

💡Pace

The Pace is a unit of length that refers to the distance of one step. It was used by the Roman army to judge speed and is still used today in various types of foot races. The Pace in the video underscores how measurement units have evolved from practical military applications to more recreational uses, showing the versatility and enduring nature of these units.

💡Girth

Girth is a measurement that was often used to measure fishing line and is defined as the measurement around one's stomach or the belt measurement. The term is used in the video to illustrate how different industries have specific measurement needs, and how these needs have led to the creation of unique units of measurement.

💡Palm

The Palm is a unit of length equivalent to the width of four fingers placed side by side. It is used in the video to demonstrate how measurements can be derived from easily reproducible body parts, emphasizing the human-centric origins of many early measurement systems.

💡Standardization

Standardization refers to the process of making measurements consistent across different contexts. The video discusses the need for standardized units due to trade and taxation, highlighting how systems like the metric system were developed to provide universal units of measurement. Standardization is key to the video's theme, as it shows the progression from individualized measurements to a more unified system.

💡Metric System

The Metric System is a decimal system of measurement that is now used worldwide. The video explains how it was developed during the 18th century by dividing the Earth's equatorial circumference into 10 million parts, leading to the definition of the meter. The Metric System is central to the video's narrative as it represents a significant leap from traditional to scientific methods of measurement.

💡Mars Climate Orbiter

The Mars Climate Orbiter is mentioned in the video as an example of the consequences of measurement unit confusion. The spacecraft was lost in 1999 due to a mix-up between English units and metric units, illustrating the importance of standardized measurements in modern technology and space exploration.

💡Fahrenheit Scale

The Fahrenheit Scale is a temperature scale that was invented by Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1714. The video explains the historical context and original definitions of the scale, which included avoiding negative numbers and basing human body temperature at approximately 100 degrees. The scale is used in the video to show how personal experiences and observations can influence the creation of measurement systems.

💡Smoot

A Smoot is a non-traditional unit of measurement that was humorously created in 1958 when MIT students used the length of a fellow student's body to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge. The video uses the Smoot as an example of how even informal and arbitrary units of measurement can become culturally significant and enduring, emphasizing the human element in the creation of measurement standards.

Highlights

The Cubit was an ancient Egyptian measurement used to build the pyramids, equivalent to the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.

The Fathom was a measurement used by seamen to measure water depth, equivalent to the distance from fingertip to fingertip with arms outstretched.

The Handspan was used to measure the height of horses, from the tip of the pinky to the tip of the thumb when the hand is outstretched.

The Pace was a term used by the Roman army to judge speed and is still used in foot races, equivalent to the length of an individual's foot.

King Henry I standardized the pace measurement because his foot was 12 inches long.

The Girth was a measurement used to measure fishing line, equivalent to the measurement around one's stomach or belt.

The Palm is the width of four fingers placed together.

The need for standardized units arose with trade and taxation, leading to the creation of standardized weights and measures.

The early English inch was defined as the length of three barley corns laid end to end.

The meter was originally defined as 1/4 of the Earth's circumference, divided into 10 million parts.

The liter was derived from the meter by taking a 10 cm cube to measure volume.

The gram was defined as the mass of 1 cubic cm of water.

The Mars Climate Orbiter was lost in 1999 due to a unit mix-up between English and metric units.

Air Canada Flight 143 ran out of fuel in 1983 due to a metric unit mix-up with the new Boeing 767's fuel computation system.

The Fahrenheit scale was invented by Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1714, with 0° F representing the coldest temperature he could create.

The metric system is based on water, with 0 degrees C for freezing and 100 degrees C for boiling.

Oliver R. Smoot's height was used to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge in 1958, creating the 'Smoot' as a unit of length.

The Smoot measurement was preserved during bridge renovations in 1987, becoming a local legend.

The assignment encourages creating a personal measuring system, similar to the Smoot, to measure objects in a classroom.

Transcripts

in this video I'm going to go over the

early measurement

history all right so what do the

following terms mean read through those

some of those you might have heard some

you may not have heard of

before right so the Cubit the Cubit was

the measurement used by the Egyptians to

build the pyramids right so Cubit is the

measure from your elbow to the tip of

your middle finger when your arm is

extended the fathom

the fathom was used by seamen to measure

the depth of water so that boats would

not run ground and be

stranded the fathom is the measure from

the fingertip to the fingertip when your

arms are stretched sideways as far as

they will go you sometimes see a rope or

fabric measured this way as

well all right the hand span the hand

spand was used to measure the height of

horse horses people still describe

horses as being so many hands

high right so the handspan is the

measure from the tip of your pinky to

the tip of your thumb when your hand is

stretched

out right then we've got the pace this

term was used by the Roman army to judge

speed the term is still used frequently

during various types of foot

races the pace is the measure of

distance from one step to another

at the foot a measurement equal to the

length of an individual's foot King

Henry I standardized this measurement

because his foot was 12 in

Long right you've got the girth girth

was a measurement often used to measure

fishing line and the girth was the

measurement around one's stomach or your

belt

measurement the palm the Palm is the

width of your four fingers when they are

placed together

together right so the history of

measurements right here's some

examples of uh measurements being used

in

history right so measuring in this

fashion can be quite challenging since

you don't have a

standard right with trade and Taxation

came the need for standardized

units right so here's some examples of

where they actually use these in ancient

times standardized weights

right bronze ruler and some more

standardized uh

weights systems of measurement commonly

used today in early or the early English

inch was defined as the length of

three barley corns laid end to

end here's a stamp commemorating the

French Republic measuring one4 of the

Earth's circumference which was the

original idea behind the

meter all right so how did the metric

system come

about well during the 18th century

scientists measured the distance from

the earth's equator to its North Pole

and divided it into 10 million

parts right this is how they came up

with the length of the standard

meter right so the meter is a standard

for the meter is kept in a safe in

France the meter stick is a replica of

that standard so meter is made up of 100

cm and 1,000

mm right the lader scientists needed a

way to measure liquids so they took 10

cm and multiplied it by its length width

and height to come up with a standard

for measuring

volume okay so that means the liter is

the size of 10 cm cubed

okay and that later is then used to

measure

liquids all right so the gram scientists

needed a standard to measure mass mass

is the amount of matter in an object

they decided to take 1 cubic cm of water

and call it a

gram okay so always give units with a

measurement all right here's an example

example the missing Mars climate Orbiter

it was lost in space in September 1999

the United States lost the Mars climate

Orbiter as it approached Mars the loss

of the

125 million spacecraft was due to

scientists confusing English units and

metric units two spacecraft teams one at

NASA jet propulsion lab in Pasadena

California and the other at a lockhead

Martin facility in Colorado where the

spacecraft was built we're unknowingly

exchanging some Vital Information in

different

units all right and then also another

mixup on July 23rd

1983 Air Canada Flight 143 a brand new

Boeing 767 ran out of fuel while in

route to Edmonton from Montreal at

26,000 ft miraculously the caption

was able to

land okay that is a typo miraculously

the captain was able to land the plane

on an abandoned Royal Canadian Air Force

Base at gimy where the runways were

converted into two-lane drag strips for

auto racing no one was killed right so

this ma mistake was caused by the

ignorance of metric units the new

767 used liters and K kg to commute

compute fuel consumption while the crew

and refuelers were only familiar with

pounds and gallons they used 1.77 PB

liter instead of 0.8 kgam per liter the

fuel quantity information system was in

operative before the flight was started

in

Montreal right so here's some Historical

Notes the Fahrenheit scale was invented

by German born scientist Gabriel

Fahrenheit in

1714 it's really nice you make up a unit

of measurement and then you get

everybody uh to start using it and then

you can name it after yourself it's

pretty cool here originally defined the

scale with 0° fah representing the

coldest temperature he could create in

the hope of avoiding negative numbers

with a mixture of ice and salt there is

some controversy on these fact

uh some books will tell you a different

way that he came about it this

particular one is the most accepted uh

some of them talk about the coldest

temperature that he experienced um in

Germany and the hottest temperatures he

experienced in Germany for that year uh

others are uh this way that I'm

explaining now so again you'll hear some

controversy on this but this is right

now the most accepted all right so he

also wanted 100° F to be about the human

body temperature and wanted to have 180

equal parts between the freezing and

boiling points of pure water it turns

out that the body temperature varies a

lot between people and is not even

constant for the same person the average

is however 98.6 de fahr so they talk

about that if this is uh right now the

accepted way that they think that he

came up with Fahrenheit then he must

been running a temperature um at that

point it must have uh his standard might

have been a higher temperature all right

but the American Standard we use

Fahrenheit which is 32° Fahrenheit for

freezing and 212° Fahrenheit for boiling

the metric system was based on water

pure water that is uh freezing being 0

degrees C and again this is uh at sea

level uh not up in the mountains all

right but at 0 degre C is freezing and

100° C is at uh the boiling

point so basically like in this next

example here someone comes up with a

measuring system they do a lot of study

on it they uh then try to get everybody

to adopt it right try to get the

scientific Community to start using

their measuring system um that is

basically what you're going to be doing

in the next assignment is you are going

to come up with your own measuring

system just like the Smoot here back in

October 1958 Oliver R Smoot was a firste

student at MIT trying to join a

fraternity Lambda Kai Alpha during

pledge week wannabe Frat Boys were asked

to do semi insane things to demonstrate

their willingness to be humiliated by

upper classman a test of character for

certain fraternities in Oliver's case

the assignment was to go with a bunch of

other pledges to a bridge the Harvard

bridge that spans the Charles River and

measure its length they were told to use

one of their members as a

ruler Smoot was chosen for the job

because he was the shortest and had the

silliest

name the measurement was done by

getting Smoot to lie down marking his

height with chalk and paint then getting

him to stand up up move one length

further along and get down again and

again and again for a while Smoot did it

under his own steam but after a hundred

or so times he became tired and his

companions ended up simply dragging him

from one space to the next in this way

it was determined that the bridge was

364.5 smoots long plus an ear and so the

Smoot was born a smoot is the length of

one one 18-year-old Oliver R Smoot which

translates to 5' 7 in exactly here's a

picture of

Smoot right and then a little drawing

that somebody had uh written

down all right so in 1987 the

Massachusetts Department of Public Works

decided that the bridge needed

Renovations and resurfacing and this

meant removing all the Smoot markings

this caused something of a common of a

commotion locally and the Press

contacted Oliver smot who was the

Executive Vice President of the computer

and business equipment manufacturers

Association in Washington DC to ask

whether he would be prepared to be

reused for new markings should the need

arise he was less than sure that he

would meantime the Massachusetts

Metropolitan District commission the

folks in charge of the bridge went on

record in support of

smoots we recognize the smoots role in

local history that's not to mean that

the agency encourages graffiti painting

but smoots aren't just any kind of

graffiti they're smoots and so the

Continental construction company of

Cambridge paved the bridge with slabs

that were 5' 7 in Long smooth length

instead of the usual 6t in

increments right so the Smoot became a

legend just because um they made up this

unit which happened to be his height

which today he still lives all right and

um he is a standard he made up this unit

of his height and was able to measure

something and still today it is a

standard so it's just in you make up a

unit you get other people to use it and

it becomes a standard

right so in the uh activity you're going

to be making your own

unit uh just like Smoot himself did and

you're going to measure things around

the classroom uh with your new base unit

uh whatever you want to base it on just

make sure it is based on the length of

something to make your unit of length uh

for you and your team