World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement - Rilegato

Crease, Robert P.

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0393072983 ISBN 13: 9780393072983

Casa editrice: W W Norton & Co Inc, 2011

Riassunto

Millions of transactions each day depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. This network has been called a greater invention than the steam engine, comparable only to the development of the printing press.Robert P. Crease traces the evolution of this international system from the use of flutes to measure distance in the dynasties of ancient China and figurines to weigh gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems. The former prevailed, with the United States one of three holdout nations. Into this captivating history Crease weaves stories of colorful individuals, including Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of the metric system, and American philosopher Charles S. Peirce, the first to tie the meter to the wavelength of light. Tracing the dynamic struggle for ultimate precision, World in the Balance demonstrates that measurement is both stranger and more integral to our lives than we ever suspected.

Su questo libro

Product Description:

Physical description; 317 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm. Summary; Offers the story of the invention of a global network of weights, scales, and instruments for measurement. Millions of transactions each day depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. This network has been called a greater invention than the steam engine, comparable only to the development of the printing press. Robert P. Crease traces the evolution of this international system from the use of flutes to measure distance in the dynasties of ancient China and figurines to weigh gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems. The former prevailed, with the United States one of three holdout nations. Into this captivating history Crease weaves stories of colorful individuals, including Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of the metric system, and American philosopher Charles S. Peirce, the first to tie the meter to the wavelength of light. Tracing the dynamic struggle for ultimate precision, World in the Balance demonstrates that measurement is both stranger and more integral to our lives than we ever suspected. Subject; Weights and measures - History.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: W W Norton & Co Inc
• Data di pubblicazione: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0393072983
• ISBN 13: 9780393072983
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 317