Meter

Definition

A meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), used to measure and quantify physical distance or dimensions. It is a fundamental unit that serves as the foundation for various systems of measurement, including the metric system.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The meter was originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole along a meridian line.
2. The modern definition of the meter is the distance traveled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.
3. Prefixes are used with the meter to represent larger or smaller units, such as kilometer (1,000 meters) and millimeter (0.001 meters).
4. The metric system, which uses the meter as the primary unit of length, is the most widely used system of measurement in the world.
5. Conversion between units of length, such as meters and feet or centimeters and inches, is a crucial skill in many areas of study and everyday life.

Review Questions

• Explain the historical and modern definitions of the meter and how they are related.
  • The meter was originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole along a meridian line. This definition was based on the understanding of the Earth's size and shape at the time. However, the modern definition of the meter is the distance traveled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. This more precise definition, based on the speed of light, was adopted to provide a more accurate and universal standard for the measurement of length.
• Describe the role of prefixes in the metric system and how they are used in conjunction with the meter.
  • Prefixes are an integral part of the metric system, as they are used to represent larger or smaller units of the base unit, the meter. For example, the prefix 'kilo-' represents a factor of 1,000, so a kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters. Similarly, the prefix 'milli-' represents a factor of 0.001, so a millimeter is equal to 0.001 meters. These prefixes allow for a wide range of measurements to be expressed using the meter as the foundation, facilitating easy conversion and understanding of relative sizes.
• Analyze the importance of the metric system, with the meter as its primary unit of length, in various fields of study and everyday life.
  • The metric system, with the meter as its primary unit of length, is the most widely used system of measurement in the world. Its decimal-based structure and standardized prefixes make it a highly practical and versatile system for a wide range of applications, from scientific research and engineering to everyday tasks like cooking and construction. The universal adoption of the metric system, with the meter as its core unit, has facilitated global communication, collaboration, and the exchange of information across diverse fields, contributing to the advancement of science, technology, and international cooperation.

Related terms

Metric System:

A decimal-based system of measurement that uses the meter as the primary unit of length, along with other units like the gram for mass and the liter for volume.

Prefixes: Standardized units added to the base unit of meter to represent larger or smaller measurements, such as kilometer (1,000 meters) and millimeter (0.001 meters).

Conversion:

The process of transforming a measurement from one unit to another, such as converting meters to feet or centimeters to inches.