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.