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Unit 1: WHAT IS METROLOGY?

You may find these words useful while working at Unit 1. Read and practice vocabulary list 1 paying attention to the international words.

Vocabulary List 1

1. accuracy  ['ækjərəsɪ] - правильность, соответствие, точность

2. adjust [ə'ʤʌst] - приводить в порядок, подгонять

3. anticipate [æn'tɪsɪpeɪt] – предугадывать, предвидеть

4. appear  [ə'pɪə] - появляться

5. apply  [ə'pɪə] – обращаться с заявлением, применять

6. appropriate [ə'prəuprɪət] – подходящий, свойственный

7. aptitude ['æptɪt(j)uːd] – склонность, способность

8. certainty ['sɜːt(ə)ntɪ] – несомненный факт, уверенность

9. comply [kəm'plaɪ] – подчинять, соответствовать

10. core [kɔː] – ядро, суть, сущность

11. damage ['dæmɪʤ] - повреждение, дефект, ущерб, убытки

12. data ['deɪtə] - данные, факты

13. debar [ˌdɪ'bɑː] - предотвращать, препятствовать

14. derisively [dɪ'raɪsɪvlɪ] - иронически

15. design [dɪ'zaɪn] - замысел, план, разработка

15. detrimental [ˌdetrɪ'ment(ə)l] – причиняющий ущерб, пагубный

16.dimensional [daɪ'menʃ(ə)n(ə)l] – имеющий измерение, пространственный

16. discourse ['dɪskɔːs] –трактат, рассуждение

17. dismantle [dɪs'mæntl] - демонтировать, разбирать машину

18. enforce [ɪn'fɔːs] – принуждать, навязывать

19. environment [ɪn'vaɪər(ə)nmənt] – окружение, обстановка

20. equipment [ɪ'kwɪpmənt] – оборудование, оснащение

21. error  ['erə] – погрешность, отклонение

22. exact [ɪg'zækt]- точный, соответствующий,

23. execute ['eksɪkjuːt] – осуществлять, реализовывать

24. facilities [fə'sɪlətɪz] - оборудование, приспособление, здания, сооружения

25. hazardous ['hæzədəs] – опасный, рискованный

25. humidity [hjuː'mɪdətɪ] - степень влажности

25.implementation [ˌɪmplɪmen'teɪʃ(ə)n] – выполнение, реализация

26. investigation [ɪnˌvestɪ'geɪʃ(ə)n] - исследование, расследование

27. issue ['ɪʃuː] – проблема, предмет спора, результат

28. manufacture [ˌmænjə'fækʧə] – производить, обрабатывать

29. measure ['meʒə] – мера, единица измерение, марка, эталон

30. perform [pə'fɔːm] – исполнять, выполнять

31. precision [prɪ'sɪʒ(ə)n] – точность, определённость, правильность

32. procedure [prə'siːʤə] – процедура, методика, технологический процесс

33. prosecute ['prɔsɪkjuːt] – преследовать в судебном порядке

34. pure [pjuə] – чистый, беспримесный

35. reference ['refərəns] – ссылка, сноска

36. regardless [rɪ'gɑːdləs] – безотносительно к чему-либо

37. rely [rɪ'laɪ] - полагаться

38. setup ['setʌp]- структура, порядок, уклад

39. sufficiently [sə'fɪʃəntlɪ] – достаточно, полностью

40. supply [sə'plaɪ] – снабжение, поставка

41. successor  [sək'sesə] – преемник, правопреемник

42. tear down [tɛə daun] – сносить, разбирать механизм по частям

43. thrive [θraɪv] - преуспевать, процветать

44. traceability [treɪsə'bɪlətɪ] – трассируемость; степень, с которой установлено отношение между двумя или более продуктами в процессе разработки, особенно продуктами, состоящими в таких отношениях, как предшествующий -последующий элемент

45. triple ['trɪpl]- утраивать

46. unfair [ʌn'fɛə] - неправильный, несправедливый

47. validate ['vælɪdeɪt] - ратифицировать, утверждать, подтверждать

48. value ['væljuː] – ценность, полезность, значение

49.verify ['verɪfaɪ] – проверять, контролировать, подтверждать

50. weight [weɪt] – вес, масса, нагрузка

Pre-reading task: Think and answer

1) Why did you make up your mind to become a metrology engineer?

2) Did anybody advise you to choose a career in this field?

3) What can you say about the role of a metrology engineer in the civilized society?

4) What do you think the word metrology means?

Read text A and do the tasks following it.

Text A

1. Metrology is the science of measurement. Metrology includes all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement. The word comes from Greek μέτρον (metron), "measure" + "λόγος" (logos), amongst others meaning "speech, oration, discourse, quote, study, calculation, reason". In Ancient Greek the term μετρολογία (metrologia) meant "theory of ratios".

2. Metrology is defined by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) as "the science of measurement, embracing both experimental and theoretical determinations at any level of uncertainty in any field of science and technology." The ontology and international vocabulary of metrology is maintained by the International Organisation for Standardisation.

3. Metrology is a very broad field and may be divided into three subfields:

Subfield	Definition
Scientific or fundamental metrology	concerns the establishment of quantity systems, unit systems, units of measurement, the development of new measurement methods, realisation of measurement standards and the transfer of traceability from these standards to users in society.
Applied or industrial metrology	concerns the application of measurement science to manufacturing and other processes and their use in society, ensuring the suitability of measurement instruments, their calibration and quality control of measurements.
Legal metrology	concerns regulatory requirements of measurements and measuring instruments for the protection of health, public safety, the environment, enabling taxation, protection of consumers and fair trade.

4. Tracebility, accuracy, precision, systematic bias, evaluation of measurement uncertainty, reliability are critical parts of a quality management system.

5. A core concept in metrology is (metrological) traceability, defined as "the property of the result of a measurement or the value of a standard whereby it can be related to stated references, usually national or international standards, through an unbroken chain of comparisons, all having stated uncertainties." The level of traceability establishes the level of comparability of the measurement: whether the result of a measurement can be compared to the previous one, a measurement result a year ago, or to the result of a measurement performed anywhere else in the world.

6. Traceability is most often obtained by calibration. Calibration is the process where metrology is applied to measurement equipment and processes to ensure conformity with a known standard of measurement, usually traceable to a national standards board. These standards are usually coordinated by national metrological institutes: National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Physical Laboratory.

7. Mistakes can make measurements and counts incorrect. Even if there are no mistakes, nearly all measurements are still inexact. The term 'error' is reserved for that inexactness, also called measurement uncertainty. Among the few exact measurements are:

- the absence of the quantity being measured, such as a voltmeter with its leads shorted together: the meter should read zero exactly.

- measurement of an accepted constant under qualifying conditions, such as the triple point of pure water: the thermometer should read 273.16 kelvin (0.01 degrees Celsius, 32.018 degrees Fahrenheit) when qualified equipment is used correctly.

- self-checking ratio metric measurements, such as a potentiometer: the ratio in between steps is independently adjusted and verified to be beyond influential inexactness.

8. All other measurements either have to be checked to be sufficiently correct or left to chance. Metrology is the science that establishes the correctness of specific measurement situations. This is done by anticipating and allowing for both mistakes and error. The precise distinction between measurement error and mistakes is not settled and varies by country. Repeatability and reproducibility studies help quantify the precision: one common method is an ANOVA gauge R&R study.

9. Sufficiently correct measurements are essential to commerce. About nine out of every ten people working in metrology specialize in commercial measurement, most at the technician level. Correct measurements are beneficial to manufacturing, but other methods are available and sometimes are more appropriate.

10. Metrology has thrived at the interface between science and manufacturing. Aerospace, commercial nuclear power, medicine, medical devices and semiconductors rely on metrology to translate theoretical science into mass produced reality.

11. The basic concepts of metrology appear simple on the surface, and metrology is rarely taught in a systematic manner above the technician level. Within most businesses, metrology core beliefs such as recording all setups and observations for possible future reference are opposed to the general business practice of minimizing recordkeeping to limit litigation effects.

I. Are these statements

a) true b) false c) there is no information in the text

1) Metrology is a purely applied branch of science.

2) All measurements performed by metrology engineers are perfectly exact.

3) The result of a measurement must be compared to the standard one.

4) Almost all branches of industry depend on the achievements of metrology.

5) Measurement standards are kept by the All-Russian National Institute of Standards and Technology in our country.

II. Find the paragraphs (1-11) to which the following ideas correspond:

1. the definition of metrology

2. the origin of metrology

3. allowing of errors

4. the benefits of metrology

III. Choose the answer to the question: What does metrology ensure?

a) that there are no mistakes

b) the protection of public safety

c) the correctness of specific measurement situations

d) the quality control of measurement instruments

IV. What is the main idea of the text? Choose from the following as the title of the text:

a) Subdivisions of Metrology

b) Core Concepts of Metrology

c) Metrology as a Scientific Discipline

d) Applied Metrology

V. Match the criterion with its definition:

Criterion	Definition
1. Precision	a. is the degree of exactness which the final product corresponds to the measurement standard.
2. Traceability	b. refers to the ability of a measurement to be consistently reproduced.
3. Accuracy	c. refers to the consistency of accurate results over consecutive measurements over time.
4. Reliability	d. refers to the ongoing validations that the measurement of the final product conforms to the original standard of measurement.

Read text B and write out the key words and phrases to make a précis. Then retell text B consulting your précis.

Text B: Applied Metrology

Metrology laboratories are places where both metrology and calibration work are performed. Calibration laboratories generally specialize in calibration work only.

Both metrology and calibration laboratories must isolate the work performed from influences that might affect the work. Temperature, humidity, vibration, electrical power supply, radiated energy and other influences are often controlled. Generally, it is the rate of change or instability that is more detrimental than whatever value prevails.

Calibration technicians execute calibration work. In large organizations, the work is further divided into three groups:

a) Set-up people arrange the equipment needed for calibration and verify that it works correctly

b) Operators execute the calibration procedures and collect data.

c) Tear-down people dismantle set-ups, check the components for damage and then put the components into a stored state. This is the entry-level position for people who didn’t start in the equipment warehouse or transportation functions.

Alternatively, the technicians can be divided by major discipline areas: physical, dimensional, electrical, microwave and so on. But the principles are the same regardless of the equipment.

Metrology technicians perform investigation work in addition to calibrations. They also apply proven principles to known situations and evaluate unexpected or contradictory results.

Large industrial organizations also develop people who demonstrate aptitude in testing functions. When this is combined with an engineering degree, it qualifies the person as a metrology engineer who performs metrology work at and above the technician levels.

The metrology and calibration work described above is always accompanied by documentation. The documentation can be divided into two types; one related to the task and the other related the administrative program. Task documentation includes calibration procedures and the data collected. Administrative program documentation includes equipment identification data, 'calibration certificates’, calibration time interval information and 'as-found' or 'out-of-tolerance' notifications.

Administrative programs provide standardization of the metrology and calibration work and make it possible to independently verify that the work was performed. Generally, the administrative program is specific to the organization performing the work and addresses customer requirements. An administrative program that has insufficient actual metrology or calibration capability is derisively referred to as a "lick and stick" program.

Read and translate the introduction to the text C into Russian. Translate the interview questions into English. Fill in the gaps in interview answers with the words in brackets below. Act out the interview.

Text C: Those Noncompliant with Standards will be Prosecuted by Law

The above expression existed in virtually all standards of the USSR. Many changes have taken place since then, but standards often remain the same - though the requirement to comply is now optional. At present, the Russian national system of standards cannot support large projects for developing offshore fields. That is why active efforts are required to formulate new regulatory documents for this industry sec­tor, which will enable engineering and environmental safety of operations at offshore oil and gas complexes.

VNIIGAZ's standardization specialist answers Oil&Gas Eurasia’s questions.

OGE: Почему стандарты так важны для работы отрасли?

Specialist: Any standard is an (1)… for the state to set rules for (2)… , construction and operation of industrial facilities and to debar unfair manufacturers. Standards contribute to manufacturing safe, (3)… and high-quality products and are especially (4)… for the oil and gas industry with a lot of (5)… industrial facilities and a high risk for the environment and human health.

(reliable, instrument, hazardous, design, significant)

OGE: Какова роль государства во внедрении этих стандартов?

Specialist: The state plays the key role with regard to (6)… issues and this is a global practice. In our country, the Federal Agency for Engineering Regulation and Metrology (the GosStandard's (7)…) deals with these issues. In addition to this agency, there are numerous (8)… bodies that enforce observing (9)… and regulations set by the state in the standards.

(supervisory, standardization, rules, successor)

OGE: Какие системы стандартизации существуют в мире?

Specialist: There are many standardization systems existing in the world. ISO is the International Standards Organization; its standards can be applied by all (10)…-countries as their national standards. API is the American Petroleum Institute dealing with standards in the oil and gas industry; it is quite a (11)… and recognized institution. API standards are applied by (12)… oil and gas companies. It is an industry standardization system in its (13)… . Corporate standardization systems do also exist. But only very large companies can take the liberty of having their own (14)… standardization systems. In our country these are Gazprom, LUKOIL and Rosneft.

(corporate, member, reputable, major, essence)

OGE: Какие процессы сопутствуют принятию национальных стандартов?

Specialist: Harmonization of documents is a widely discussed topic at the moment. Within the national standardization system, various countries try to take (15)… of international experience in order to establish a uniform (16)… to defining requirements. Harmonization can be carried out by the so called "cover method" or "modification method." The cover method implies translation of a standard and its (17)… as a national one. This is often used by developing economies and industries. The modification method means that an international standard is taken as a starting point and adjusted to local conditions. In my opinion, this method is the most (18)… for our country. We have our own resource development program and (19)… extensive experience in standardization.

(approach, adoption, possess, account, acceptable )

Read the CV in Text D. Act out the job hunting interview with this candidate discussing her strong and weak points. Then make your own CV.

Text D: CV

Education: Double Majors: Minor: Study Abroad: Related Experience: Other Experience:

Susan Quigley             432-543-6543       Cell: 333-123-1234 susan.quigley@abcu.edu  35 White Street New York, NY 10001 Bachelor of Arts, ABC University, New York, NY, May 2011 English and Latin American Studies Spanish Bogota, Colombia - January 2010 Library Assistant, Cervantes Library, ABC University Sept. 2007 - present Perform general administrative duties to support professional staff Founder and leader, Harry Potter Book Club, New York, NY Jan. 2007 - present Intern, Calles y Sueños Cultural Space, Bogotá Spring 2009 Assisted in teaching complimentary English lessons to community members English Tutor, Queens, NY Jan. 2008 - May 2008 Assisted student in writing and proofreading essays, focusing on emphasis through rhetorical devices Volunteer at Community Library, Queens, NY Jan. 2008 - May 2008 Catalogued thousands of donated books, CDs, and DVDs Started weekly book group for elementary students to learn basic Spanish words through listening to children's books read aloud and translated Summer Counselor, NY Arts Camp Summer 2004 - Summer 2007 Coordinated cultural outings for children aged 10-13 i.e. trips to the theater, musical concerts, and museums including backstage conversations with artists when possible Helped students to plan, advertise, and hold their own artistic performances and exhibitions Swim Team Assistant Coach, Brooklyn, NY Summer 2006 Taught 6-8 year olds to swim the four major strokes Trombonist in All-state wind ensemble, section leader in jazz band Arts & Culture Editor, PS 101 High School Paper High School

Translate text e into English. Text e: о метрологии

Метрология – наука об измерениях методах и средствах обеспечения их единства и способах достижения требуемой точности

Нет ни одной области практической деятельности человека, где можно было бы обойтись без количественных оценок, получаемых в результате измерений.

Человек появляется на свет, еще не имеет имени, но становятся известны его рост, вес, температура тела - уже в первые минуты жизни ему приходится сталкиваться с линейкой, весами, термометром. Каждое утро, выходя из дома, мы оцениваем температуру воздуха на улице и соответственно одеваемся. Свой день мы расписываем по часам и пытаемся выполнить этот план, периодически поглядывая на часы. Стоя перед лужей и решая - прыгнуть через нее или обойти, мы соизмеряем длину лужи и свои возможности. Вокруг нас, в быту, множество приборов и средств измерений – часы, термометры, линейки, весы, электрические, водяные и газовые счетчики.

Практически не существует ни одного предприятия или жилья, где не было бы средств измерений. Metrology Forum: Just for Fun The First Thing we should do is to Standardize the Language

The intent of international "standards" is to facilitate consistency and common interpretation, so it's amusing that documents written using British English have to be "translated" into American English when they're adopted over there. We need a standard language. Mark Twain believed many problems would be overcome by eliminating the redundancy in the construction of the English language. After all, do we really need 26 letters in the alphabet? In doing so, his resultant language sadly typifies the way many people view and understand "standards" today!

Caution: If any variety of English is not your native tongue, you may find this difficult to follow. Even native Brits find it difficult.....

A Plan for the Improvement of English Spelling by Mark Twain

• In Year 1, that useless letter c would be dropped to be replaced either by k or s, and likewise x would no longer be part of the alphabet. The only kase in which c would be retained would be the ch formation, which will be dealt with later.

• Year 2 might reform w spelling, so that which and one would take the same konsonant, while Year 3 might abolish y replasing it with i and Iear 4 might fiks the g / j anomali wonse and for all. Jenerally then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear with Iear 5 doing awai with the useless double konsonants and Iear 6-12 or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist konsonants.

• Bai Iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi ridandant letez c, y and x -- bai no

• w jast a memori in the maindz ov ould doderez -- tu riplais ch, sh and th rispektivli.

Fainali, xen aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud hev a lojikl, kohimt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingli-spiking werld. Are You a Manager, or an Engineer?

A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"

The man below says: "Yes you're in a hot air balloon, hovering 30 feet above this field."

"You must work in Customer Support", says the balloonist. "I do", replies the man, "how did you know?"

"Well", says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but it's of no use to anyone."

The man below says "You must work in management." "I do", replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well", says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're going, but you expect me to be able to help. And you're in the same position as you were before we met, but now it's my fault."

Unit 2: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

You may find these words useful while working at Unit 2. Read and practice vocabulary list 2 paying attention to the international words.

Vocabulary List 2

1. acceptance [ək'septəns] – получение, принятие, одобрение

2. approach [ə'prəuʧ] – подход, приближение

3. arbitrary ['ɑːbɪtr(ə)rɪ] – произвольный, случайный

4. assess [ə'ses] – оценивать, давать оценку

5. auspices ['ɔːspɪs iːz] - протекция, покровительство

6. authority [ɔː'θɔrɪtɪ] – власть, органы власти, отдел

7. cell [sel] – ячейка, камера, клетка

8. commonality [ˌkɔmə'nælətɪ] - общность

9. constant ['kɔnstənt]- постоянная, константа

10. derive [dɪ'raɪv] – получать, извлекать, устанавливать происхождение

11. designate ['dezɪgneɪt] –предназначать, называть

12. encompass [ɪn'kʌmpəs]- выполнять, осуществлять

13. encounter [ɪn'kauntə]- столкнуться, натолкнуться на трудности

14. hierarchy ['haɪərɑːkɪ] – иерархия

15. inferior [ɪn'fɪərɪə]- подчинённый, второстепенный

16. in order to [ɪn 'ɔːdə tuː] - для того чтобы

17. maintain [meɪn'teɪn] – поддерживать, обслуживать, содержать в исправности

18. pendulum  ['pendj(ə)ləm] - маятник

19. precursor [ˌprɪ'kɜːsə] - предшественник

20. promulgate  ['prɔm(ə)lgeɪt] – опубликовать, обнародовать, пропагандировать

21. pursue  [pə'sjuː] – следовать намеченным курсом, преследовать

22. reconcile ['rek(ə)nsaɪl] – примирить, урегулировать

23. refine [rɪ'faɪn] – повышать качество

24. resemble [rɪ'zembl] – походить, иметь сходство

25. responsible [rɪ'spɔn(t)səbl] - ответственный, подотчётный, надёжный

26. saturate ['sæʧ(ə)reɪt] – пропитывать, насыщать

27. superior  [s(j)uː'pɪərɪə] – лучший, более совершенный, исключительный

Pre-reading task: Think and answer

1) What do you know about the earliest examples of measurement?

2) What measuring units do you know?

3) What pieces of measurement equipment do you know?

4) Who contributed to the development of metrology?

Read text A and do the tasks following it.

Text A

1. Metrology has existed in some form or another since antiquity. The earliest forms of metrology were simply arbitrary standards set up by regional or local authorities, often based on practical measures such as the length of an arm. The earliest examples of these standardized measures are length, time, and weight. These standards were established in order to facilitate commerce and record human activity.

2. Little progress was made with regard to proto-metrology until various scientists, chemists, and physicists started making headway during the scientific revolution. With the advances in the sciences, the comparison of experiment to theory required a rational system of units, and something more closely resembling modern metrology began to come into being. The discovery of atom, electricity, thermodynamics, and other fundamental scientific principles could be applied to standards of measurement, and many inventions made it easier to quantitatively or qualitatively assess physical properties, using the defined units of measurement established by science.

3. Metrology was thus one of the precursors to the Industrial Revolution, and was necessary for the implementation of mass production, equipment commonality, and assembly lines.

4. Modern metrology has its roots in the French Revolution, with the political motivation to harmonize units all over France and the concept of establishing units of measurement based on constants of nature, and thus making measurement units available "for all people, for all time". In this case deriving a unit of length from the dimensions of the Earth, and a unit of mass from a cube of water. The result was platinum standards for the meter and the kilogram established as the basis of the metric system on June 22, 1799. This further led to the creation of the Système International d'Unités, or the International System of Units. This system has gained unprecedented worldwide acceptance as definitions and standards of modern measurement units. Though not the official system of units of all nations, the definitions and specifications of SI are globally accepted and recognized. The SI is maintained under the auspices of the Metre Convention and its institutions, the General Conference on Weights and Measures, or CGPM, its executive branch the International Committee for Weights and Measures, or CIPM, and its technical institution the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, or BIPM.

5. As the authorities on SI, these organizations establish and promulgate the SI, with the ambition to be able to service all. This includes introducing new units, such as the relatively new unit, the mole, to encompass metrology in chemistry. These units are then established and maintained through various agencies in each country, and establish a hierarchy of measurement standards that can be traced back to the established standard unit, a concept known as metrological traceability.

6. The development of standards also does involve individual and small group achievements. In 1893, Edward Weston (chemist) and his company perfected his Saturated Standard Cell design, which allowed the volt to be reproduced to 1 part in ten to the fourth power directly. This advance made a huge practical difference at a critical moment in the development of modern electrical devices. Groupings of saturated cells, called banks, can still be found in some metrology and calibration laboratories today. Edward Weston did not pursue patents for his cell design. By doing this, his superior design quickly replaced similar but inferior patented devices worldwide without much discussion.

I. Are these statements

a) true b) false c) there is no information in the text

1) In the past man used various kinds of measuring equipment.

2) The development of metrology was followed by the development of sciences.

3) The International System of Units is adopted worldwide.

4) The French Academy of Sciences worked out new units of length and mass.

5) Ancient metrology used to be the practice of applying feasible measures.

II. Find the paragraphs (1-6) to which the following ideas correspond:

1. the origin of the International System of Units

2. the first standards

3. the example of personal and team work

4. the role of SI institutions

III. Choose the answer to the question: What made modern metrology necessary?

a) the necessity to develop sciences

b) the necessity to create new units

c) the necessity to reconcile units in one country

d) the necessity to facilitate human activity

IV. What is the main idea of the text? Choose from the following as the title of the text:

a) Establishing New Units

b) Global Metrology Institutions

c) Metrology as a Drive towards Progress

d) Pages in Metrology History

Read text B and answer the questions to part I. Fill the gaps in part II with the words in brackets below. Get ready to tell the group about the work done by the French Academy of Sciences.

Questions to part I:

1) What is a meter?

2) Who suggested the idea of the length unit?

3) What is the origin of the word meter?

4) How was the length unit worked out?

5) What was the measurement error?

Text B: Meridional definition

Part I

The meter (or metre), symbol m, is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Originally intended to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole (at sea level), its definition has been periodically refined to reflect growing knowledge of metrology. Since 1983, it is defined as the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum in a second.

The first recorded proposal for a decimal-based unit of length was the universal measure unit proposed by the English philosopher John Wilkins in 1668. In 1675 the Italian scientist Tito Livio Burattini, in his work Misura Universale, used the words (lit. "catholic [i.e. universal] metre"), which was derived from the Greek (métron katholikón), "a universal measure". This word gave rise to the French mètre which in 1797 was introduced into the English language.

In 1668 Wilkins proposed using Christopher Wren's suggestion of a pendulum with a half-period of one second to measure a standard length that Christiaan Huygens had observed to be 38 Rhineland or 39¼ English inches (997 mm) in length.

In the 18th century, there were two favoured approaches to the definition of the standard unit of length. One approach followed Wilkins in defining the metre as the length of a pendulum with a half-period of one second, a 'seconds pendulum'. The other approach suggested defining the metre as one ten-millionth of the length of the Earth's meridian along a quadrant, that is the distance from the equator to the North Pole. In 1791, the French Academy of Sciences selected the meridional definition over the pendular definition because the force of gravity varies slightly over the surface of the Earth, which affects the period of a pendulum.

In order to establish a universally accepted foundation for the definition of the metre, measurements of this meridian more accurate than those available at that time were imperative. The French Academy of Sciences commissioned an expedition led by Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre and Pierre Méchain, lasting from 1792 to 1799, which measured the distance between the Dunkerque belfry and Montjuïc castle, Barcelona to estimate the length of the meridian arc through Dunkerque (assumed to be the same length as the Paris meridian). This portion of the meridian was to serve as the basis for the length of the half meridian, connecting the North Pole with the equator. The exact shape of the Earth is not a simple mathematical shape (sphere or ellipse) at the level of precision required for defining a standard of length. The irregular and particular shape of the Earth (smoothed to sea level) is called a Geoid, which means "Earth-shaped".

However, in 1793, France adopted as its official unit of length a metre based on provisional results from the expedition. Although it was later determined that the first prototype metre bar was short by a fifth of a millimeter because of miscalculation of the flattening of the Earth, this length became the standard. The circumference of the Earth through the poles is therefore slightly more than forty million meters.