Alternative approaches to redefining the kilogram
Okay kiddo, you know how we use kilograms to measure how heavy things are? Well, scientists have been using this tiny little cylinder made of metal called the "International Prototype of the Kilogram" to define what a kilogram actually is. But the problem is that the weight of this cylinder has been changing a little bit over time, which makes it hard for scientists to be certain they're measuring things correctly.
So now these really smart people are trying to find a new way to define what a kilogram is without using this little metal cylinder anymore. Some of the alternative approaches they're looking at include using:
- A device called a "Kibble balance" which uses electromagnetic forces to balance a weight and an electric current and calculate the kilogram based on the electric current.
- Measurements of how much energy a single particle of matter emits when it moves around. This is called the "Avogadro constant" and it would be used to define the kilogram in terms of the number of atoms in a mole of a specific substance.
- Extremely precise measurements of gravity, which can be related to mass using a formula.
By using these alternative methods, scientists hope to be able to define what a kilogram is with a lot more accuracy and consistency, so that everyone around the world can be sure they're measuring things the same way.
So now these really smart people are trying to find a new way to define what a kilogram is without using this little metal cylinder anymore. Some of the alternative approaches they're looking at include using:
- A device called a "Kibble balance" which uses electromagnetic forces to balance a weight and an electric current and calculate the kilogram based on the electric current.
- Measurements of how much energy a single particle of matter emits when it moves around. This is called the "Avogadro constant" and it would be used to define the kilogram in terms of the number of atoms in a mole of a specific substance.
- Extremely precise measurements of gravity, which can be related to mass using a formula.
By using these alternative methods, scientists hope to be able to define what a kilogram is with a lot more accuracy and consistency, so that everyone around the world can be sure they're measuring things the same way.