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The CGS system, abbreviated for centimetre, gram, and second of units, predates the recent International System, also known as SI units. This is the current iteration of the metric system.
The CGS system is a different system based on the important units of centimetres for distance, grams for mass, and second for time. It was displaced by the MKS system, which was based on the fundamental units of metres for distance.
More so, the SI system is metric but with a new approach. SI units were introduced to reduce the confusion that arose due to having multiple units.
What is the symbol of metre, kilogram, second?
There are seven well-defined base units present in the SI system. The seven base units are metre, candela, kelvin, ampere, mole, gram, and second.
The CGPM assigns all these units. These units are considered by convention to be independent dimensionally. The SI-derived units are the ones that may be conveyed rapidly by multiplying or dividing base units. It also helps us not to memorise a lot of units.
For example, the acceleration (m .s-2), electric charge (A. s), or density (kg.m-3).
Let us learn about the symbols of metre kilogram second, and other SI units
‘s’ is the symbol of a second which is the SI unit of time.
‘m’ is the symbol of a metre which is the SI unit of length.
‘k’ is the symbol of the kilogram, which is the SI unit of mass.
‘A’ symbolises an ampere, the SI unit of electric current.
‘K’ is the symbol of kelvin, which is the SI unit of thermodynamic temperature.
‘mol’ is the symbol of mole, which is the SI unit of the amount of substance.
‘cd’ is the symbol of candela which is the SI unit of luminous intensity.
If we take the other physical quantities also, then there are many units available for a particular quantity.
The chosen SI Units have the following characteristics:
It must have a suitable size.
It should be accurately defined.
It must have easy access.
It must be time-independent.
It should not change with the change in physical quantities.
Description of the MKS system
The MKS system is an ultimate system of units. In this system, the base units are metre, kilogram, and second.
Other MKS units include the Newton of force, the joule of work or energy, and the watt of power. The units of the MKS system are generally much larger and of a more suitable size than the comparable units of the CGS system. The MKAS system provides the basis for the International System of Units (SI).
Description of FPS system
The FPS of units is a plan for calculating quantity or material and its fundamental units are foot, pound, and second.
What is the utilisation of foot, pound, and second? The pound is mainly utilised for weight, whereas the foot is mainly utilised for length, and the second is utilised for time. The FPS system has double versions, that is the Imperial version or the American version. This scheme is not frequently utilised by scientists in the modern era. The International System of Units (SI) is most favoured as compared to others. FPS units are utilised, to some extent, by the scientific community, especially in the US (United States) country.
Detailed description of foot, pounds, and second
Foot
One foot describes a proper length of twelve inches. The inch was exactly defined as the length of 3 usual barleycorns that are laid end-to-end. Also, the foot was almost equal to 3 hand widths or 2/3 of a cubit. In present days, a foot is considered 0.3048 metres, wherein the metre is the International System of Units (SI) or fundamental unit of displacement in the metric system.
Pound
One pound (1 lb) is the force that speeds up 32.1740 feet per second squared (32.1740 ft/sec2) when applied in opposition to a recognised standard mass. The acceleration of 32.1740 ft/sec2 is approximately the value of Earth’s gravitational acceleration at forty-five degrees north latitude.
Second
One second (1 s or 1 sec) is the time that elapses during 9.192631770 x 109 cycles of the radiation formed by the transition between 2 levels of Cesium 133. In addition to this, It is also 1/86,400 of a mean solar day. (There are sixty seconds per minute, sixty minutes in an hour, and twenty-four hours in a day; 60 x 60 x 24 = 86,400.)
Conclusion
The International System of Units (SI system) is very important because it helps the whole world understand the measurements in only one set of units, instead of having to convert them to another.
The SI system also helps us avoid memorising a lot of units. It is equal in amount to others. This standard system of measurements ensures that results have the same units and scientists can easily compare results, and duplicate experiments.
