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Physical Measurement Laboratory

OFFICE OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

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International Legal Metrology
Laboratory Metrology
Laws and Regulations The SI rests on a foundation of seven (7) defining constants: the
Legal Metrology Devices cesium hyperfine splitting frequency, the speed of light in vacuum,
the Planck constant, the elementary charge (i.e. the charge on a
Metric (SI)
proton), the Boltzmann constant, the Avogadro constant, and the
U.S. Metrication luminous e!icacy of a specified monochromatic source. Definitions
SI Units of all seven (7) SI base units are expressed using an explicit-constant
formulation and experimentally realized using a specific mises en
Understanding Metric
pratique (practical technique).
Everyday with Metric
The seven SI base units, which are comprised of:
SI Education & Training

Unit Conversion Length - meter (m)

Time - second (s)
Metric Policy
Amount of substance - mole (mole)
Publications
Electric current - ampere (A)
Training
Temperature - kelvin (K)
U.S. National Working Groups Luminous intensity - candela (cd)
Resources Mass - kilogram (kg)
Sta! and Technical Experts
Directory
The International System of Units (SI), commonly known as the metric
system, is the international standard for measurement. The International
Treaty of the Meter was signed in Paris on May 20, 1875 by seventeen
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countries, including the United States and is now celebrated around the
globe as World Metrology Day . NIST provides o!icial U.S. representation in
the various international bodies established by the Meter Convention: CGPM
- General Conference on Weights and Measures; CIPM - International
Committee for Weights and Measures; and BIPM - The International
Bureau of Weights and Measures.

The SI is made up of 7 base units that define the 22 derived units with
special names and symbols, which are illustrated in NIST SP 1247, SI Base Units Relationship Poster.
The SI plays an essential role in international commerce and is commonly used in scientific and
technological research and development. Learn more about the SI in NIST SP 330 and SP 811.

Basequantity
SIBaseUnits

Baseunit
×
Name Typicalsymbol Name Symbol
time second

length 1,x,r.etc. meter m

mass m kilogram Kg

electriccurrent ampere A

thermodynamictemperature kelvin K

amountofsubstance mole mol

luminousintensitv candela cd
nurroNiSTSpecialPublication330;2019,ab.e

Table of SI base units.

Credit: NIST

Resources for Students and Teachers

Redefining the SI – In November 2018, the world’s measurement experts voted and unanimously
approved a revision of the SI that establishes a measurement system entirely based on physical
constants of nature. The changes became e!ective on World Metrology Day , May 20, 2019. (NIST)
Learn more about the Road to the Revised SI. Learn more about the SI Redefinition. (NIST)
The Last Artifact documentary and companion Grade 5 to 12 educational resources , which
document the work that went on behind the scenes to modernize the International System of Units
(SI). (Montana PBS)
NIST SP 1247 SI Base Units Relationships Poster – a colorful poster illustrating the relationships of
the International System of Units (SI) derived units with special names and symbols and the seven
traditional base units. (NIST)
Metric Trivia Quiz – How much do you know about the metric system (SI)? Try the NIST Metric Trivia
Table of SI base units. Quiz online or use the Alexa skill to test your knowledge and be on your way to thinking metric! 2 of 2
Credit: NIST
Download | Image info (NIST)
SI Education and Training – Explore NIST metric system education resources that build SI
measurement system familiarity and fluency. (NIST)
Kids Education Resources. (NIST)
Busting Myths about the Metric System. (NIST Taking Measure Blog)

Resources
Becoming Familiar with SI
Everyday Estimation
Metrication FAQs
Prefixes
SI Education and Training
SI Publications
Understanding Metric
Writing with Metric Units
National Metric Week
NEST-R (STEM Registry)
NIST Education Resources

Metric

CONTACTS
Metric Program
TheSI@nist.gov

Created April 12, 2010, Updated August 22, 2022

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