Metrijärjestelmässä

The metrijärjestelmässä, or metric system, is a decimal system of measurement based on powers of ten. It is the most widely used system of measurement in the world, both for everyday purposes and for science and technology. The system is based on a set of base units, the most important of which are the meter for length, the kilogram for mass, and the second for time. Prefixes are used to denote multiples and submultiples of these base units, such as kilo- for 1000, centi- for 1/100, and milli- for 1/1000. This simple and logical structure makes the metric system easy to learn and use, and it facilitates the conversion between different units.

The modern metric system is known as the International System of Units (SI). SI was established in 1960 and has been updated several times since then. Its core principle is that units are defined by fundamental physical constants, ensuring universality and consistency across the globe. For example, the meter is now defined in terms of the speed of light, and the kilogram is defined by Planck's constant. This departure from physical artifacts, like the original platinum-iridium prototype kilogram, ensures that the SI units remain stable and accessible to all. The adoption of the metric system has fostered international trade, scientific collaboration, and technological advancement by providing a common language of measurement.