Mittarijärjestelmä

Mittarijärjestelmä, often translated as the metric system, is a decimal system of weights and measures based on the meter and the kilogram. Its foundation is the International System of Units (SI), which is the modern form of the metric system and the world's most widely used system of measurement. The SI is built upon seven base units: the meter for length, the kilogram for mass, the second for time, the ampere for electric current, the kelvin for thermodynamic temperature, the mole for amount of substance, and the candela for luminous intensity.

The primary advantage of the metric system is its decimal nature. Multiples and submultiples of the base units are created by powers of 10, indicated by prefixes such as kilo- (1000), centi- (0.01), and milli- (0.001). This makes calculations and conversions significantly simpler compared to older systems with arbitrary conversion factors. For instance, converting kilometers to meters involves a straightforward multiplication by 1000.

The origins of the metric system trace back to the French Revolution, with its formal adoption in France in 1795. Over time, its practicality and universality led to its widespread adoption globally. Most countries have officially adopted the SI system, though some, like the United States, still use customary units alongside it. The metric system is crucial for international trade, scientific research, and technological advancement, ensuring consistency and precision in measurements worldwide.