The importance of the worlds roundest object - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davidmash · #1 02-10-2017, 12:45 AM

It has to do with determining mass as a standard unit of measurement..... I think. I barely understand what they are talking about but it was really interesting.

https://youtu.be/mfgsQX78hg8

Dubyagee · #2 02-10-2017, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

It has to do with determining mass as a standard unit of measurement..... I think. I barely understand what they are talking about but it was really interesting.

https://youtu.be/mfgsQX78hg8

You posted light speed photo imaging. Which in itself is amazing.

Cant wait to see how they apply reflection capturing using varying wavelengths and multiple signal sources instead of the single source, single wavelength method shown.

davidmash · #3 02-10-2017, 10:09 AM

The light thing was pretty neat. Never thought of light as something that travels like that (in hind sight it makes sense) where you could actually see a package of photons actually pass through something and then disperse at the end.

As far as a standard for weight, I guess it is important in some aspect to know exactly how much at least one thing weighs so you can use that as a standard for everything else. The standards to which that sphere is ground is pretty impressive. If the sphere were the size of the earth the variance from highest point to lowest point would only be 14 feet/meters (I do not remember which unit of measurement she used).

Science can be pretty cool sometimes.

Dubyagee · #4 02-10-2017, 11:10 AM

I think I've seen the sphere reference. Although there are other reference points for mass. I understand needing a close to perfect standard.

davidmash · #5 02-10-2017, 02:40 PM

I assume you watched the video. If not from what I can gather there were 6 metal (I forgot what metal) weights made each 1 Kg each. They are kept in a sealed temp controlled vault and are "THE" standard of weight for the world. Clones were made and sent through out the world so nations would have a standard by which to measure by. When the control weights were recently taken out and re measured there were variances in their weight even though they started out the same. The variance in weight amounts to the weight of a finger print. Who knew you could weigh a finger print? They are freaking serious about this weight thing.'

So far they have no idea how the mass of the various weights changed.

From what I can understand the sphere is going to be the replacement for the weights. It is made from a silica of some sort that according to the lady in the video, the sphere has no voids. The atoms are perfectly aligned so that there is no space in it. Since they are talking about the weight of a finger print screwing up the other weights I assume that when they say there is no void they are serious.

She said they are going to count the atoms in the sphere. Not one by one apparently but since they know the dimension of the sphere and the dimension of the atoms involved they can calculate the number of atoms and figure out the weight.

Now I have no clue what all that means but I think if someone can figure out exactly how many atoms are in a sphere about the size of a softball, well, that's pretty dam cool.

I still like seeing the light pass through the bottle. That was an eye opener for me. Never occurred to me that light could be measured like that.

Dubyagee · #6 02-10-2017, 02:56 PM

I have seen a video on the sphere. I don't see a link to one in your post.

If I remember correctly they found out that altitude altered how much the originals weighed in relation to earths gravity. Altitude also alters time itself in relation to the planet.

I am trying to find how they made the sphere. I always thought a polymer or molten metal formed in the void of space would make a close to perfect sphere if far enough away from celestial gravitation forces during the process.

I like ultra accurate sciences and investigation.

davidmash · #7 02-10-2017, 05:05 PM

Sorry. I posted the wrong link.

https://youtu.be/ZMByI4s-D-Y

looks like it was ground out of a larger ingot.

Dubyagee · #8 02-10-2017, 05:33 PM

That is impressive the distance humans will go to label and divide matter. It all starts with one person setting a standard and everyone else testing that standard to the furthest conclusion. At least until the base standard is altered.

How did they verify the originals weight varied from the set standard. I understand differences between them as a lot but what calibration was used to verify they all were off from being an actual kilo if they all were heavier. Im gonna do some research over a cigar later.

davidmash · #9 02-11-2017, 10:37 AM

Not sure how they varied but it seems they are just dirty.

The Kilogram Has Gained Weight