Measure for Measure by Alexius J Hebra

Measure for Measure by Alexius J Hebra

From the cubit used by Noah to build the ark to the angstrom in spectroscopy, units of measure have been integral to science and engineering. Throughout history, countless systems of measurement have been devised and then discarded as more precise and more logical systems have come along. While most of the world has adopted the metric system, the United States - with the curious exception of soda bottles - adheres to the imperial system, even though the country has officially been a metric nation since 1893, when Thomas Corwin Mendenhall declared metric prototypes the country's "fundamental standards of length and mass". The convenience of the base-ten metric system is undeniable, and so are the costs associated with not converting to metric. Yet, Americans still cling to inches, quarts and ounces. Clearly, there is more to measurement than logic. In this book, Alex Hebra offers an engaging and instructive history of measurement systems from ancient times to the present, exploring how and why such units as the stadium, the span and the parsec first came about. Tracing civilization's various efforts to calculate distance, volume, mass, energy and time, he explains how units of measurement are applied in such fields as mechanical engineering, physics, optics and astronomy. In particular, Hebra focuses on the development of the metric system, arguing that even the United States will eventually join the worldwide metric community. "Measure for Measure" chronicles humanity's imperfect search for the perfect system with which to quantify reality.

"The integration of math and engineering history is not easy to do, and in my opinion Hebra has sucessfully carried it offThe book is well-organized and written in a delightful, dry wit."--Paul Nahin, author of The Science of Radio and Duelling Idiots and Other Probability Puzzlers "Measure for Measure is a charming book, packed with delights, in which Hebra guides us from Ancient Egypt and Babylon to the present day. It is filled with anecdotes and historical facts that illuminate and enliven his account of the way that scientists and engineers have come to agreement on how to define the basic units for physical quantities and how they are related. Alex Hebra has written a book that is both informative and fun".--John Charap, author of Explaining the Universe "Alex Hebra's extraordinary book shows how units of measurement are woven inextricably into the fabric of science and history. There is no escape from the need for units--ancient or modern, they are everywhere. Step into the hotel bar and you could still be offered a hogshead (that's more beer than you can drink) or a jeroboam (that's more champagne than you can afford), although a gill or a quart is more likely. From ancient Babylon to biochemistry, from Archimedes to Jefferson, from cubits to Angstroms, units have a story to tell. If you have ever wondered about the distance between Alexandria and Aswan in camel-days or how fast a Martian canal boat can go, then this is the book for you."--Neil A. Downie, author of Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly,and 27 Other Saturday Science Projects

Alex Hebra is a science writer and research and development engineering consultant.

SKU	Non disponible
ISBN 13	9780801870729
ISBN 10	0801870720
Titre	Measure for Measure
Auteur	Alexius J Hebra
État	Non disponible
Éditeur	Johns Hopkins University Press
Année de publication	2003-06-02
Nombre de pages	160
Note de couverture	La photo du livre est présentée à titre d'illustration uniquement. La reliure, la couverture ou l'édition réelle peuvent varier.
Note	Non disponible