metriksystem

The metriksystem, or metric system, is a decimal-based system of measurement used for science, industry, and daily life. It forms the foundation of the International System of Units (SI). Measurements are expressed using a small set of base units and a scalable set of prefixes, enabling easy conversion by powers of ten.

The system originated in the late 18th century in France as a way to standardize diverse regional units. It was gradually adopted in many countries, and in 1960 it evolved into the International System of Units (SI). In 2019, several base units were redefined by fixing fundamental constants, such as the speed of light for the metre and Planck constant for the kilogram, ensuring long-term stability.

SI base units include the metre for length, the kilogram for mass, the second for time, the ampere for electric current, the kelvin for temperature, the mole for amount of substance, and the candela for luminous intensity. Prefixes such as milli-, centi-, deci-, deca-, kilo-, and mega- are used to form smaller or larger units. Common derived units include newton for force, joule for energy, and watt for power.

The metriksystem is the predominant measurement system in science, industry, and international trade. Most countries use SI in education and official measurements; some retain traditional units for everyday use, particularly in informal contexts. Global standardization facilitates communication, manufacturing, and data exchange.

Overall, the metriksystem provides a coherent, scalable framework for measuring physical quantities, supporting precision, interoperability, and ease of calculation across disciplines.