Editors: | F. Kongoli, M. Calin, J.M. Dubois, K. Zuzek-Rozman |
Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
Publication Year: | 2019 |
Pages: | 156 pages |
ISBN: | 978-1-989820-02-5 |
ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
On 20 May 2019, the definitions of all the base units that comprise the International System of Units (SI) are derived from constants of nature like the speed of light and Avogadro’s number instead of human-made artifacts. The kilogram, the SI base unit that was the oldest is now defined in terms of the Planck constant instead of the platinum-iridium cylinder known as “The Big K”. The redefinition of the kilogram became possible as a result of the ground-breaking discovery of the quantum Hall effect in 1980 by the author who subsequently received for this discovery the Nobel Prize in Physics five years later. The history, challenges and making of the new kilogram is presented along with its importance.