Prototype meter bar

Part II.

In the 1870s and in light of modern (1)… , a series of international conferences was held to (2)… new metric standards. The Metre Convention of 1875 mandated the establishment of a (3)… International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM: Bureau International des Poids et Mesures) to be located in Sèvres, France. This new organisation would preserve the new prototype metre and kilogram standards when constructed, (4)… national metric prototypes, and maintain comparisons between them and (5)… measurement standards. The organisation created a new prototype bar in 1889 at the first General Conference on (6)… and Measures (CGPM: Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures), establishing the International Prototype Metre as the distance between two lines on a standard bar composed of an (7)… of ninety percent platinum and ten percent iridium, measured at the melting (8)… of ice.

The original international prototype of the meter is still kept at the BIPM under the conditions specified in 1889. A discussion of measurements of a standard meter bar and the (9)… encountered in making the measurements is found in a NIST document.

(devise, weights, errors, alloy, precision, point, distribute, permanent, non-metric)

Pre-reading task: Think and answer.

1) Do you like to go to museums? Why?

2) When did you last go to the museum? Tell about it in brief.

Read the first paragraph and guess what can be seen in this museum.

Then read text C and find out the following information:

- its location;

- its foundation;

- the most valuable exhibits;

- its activities.

Text C: A Visit to the Museum

The Metrological Museum of the D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology is one of the oldest scientific museums in Russia. Its exhibits are displayed in two buildings of the Institute.

The memorial study room of D.I. Mendeleyev and the gallery of portraits of outstanding scientists who made a brilliant contribution to metrology are located in the Main Building of VNIIM constructed by architect F.F. Beckman in 1879, and the sections: “D.I. Mendeleyev is the Founder of Scientific Metrology”, “Russian System of Measures” and "Home Chemical Laboratory of Mendeleyev" are in the so-called “Red Building” constructed by A.I. Von-Gogen, 1897.

The first museum collection was formed in the thirties of the XIX-th century at the time when the Russian scientists worked on the establishment of a system of measures. Mr. E.F. Kankrin, Russian Minister of Finance, gathered a “Collection of Reference Measures of Main Foreign States” in order to compare them with the Russian measurement standards. It included measures from 27 countries and cities of the world: West-European pounds and feet, Chinese lyans, Egyptian rotles, a Norwegian monetary set of weights, a Turkish arshin called endase, a Swedish quarter, a Cassel semi-cubit, a French toise, American pints, gallons, etc.

The museum dispose of especially valuable collection of the first Russian standards and reference measures of mass, length and volume: a Kupfer iron sazhen, pounds of 1833 and 1834, T. Gigerson and G. Krause pails and cups, R. Gainam arshins furnishing visual demonstration of how the national measurement system legalized in 1835 and applied in Russia before the transition to the metric system looked like. A significant number of the museum exhibits relate to the metrological activities of the world-famous Russian scientist D.I. Mendeleyev, who headed the first research metrological establishment in Russia, which was the Main Chamber of Weights and Measures (called today "D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology") from 1892 to the end of his life. One can see here measurement standards that were used in the early 20th century, equipment of the scientific divisions set up by D.I. Mendeleyev, namely: Weighing Division, Comparator Division, Thermometry Division, Manometry Division, Astronomy Division, Electrical Division, Photometry Division, etc.

At the end of the 19-th century on the initiative of D.I.Mendeleyev the museum acquired old weights and measures from the Mint: reference balance manufactured at the Sestroretsk Munitions Factory in 1747, sets of weights produced in 1753 and 1771, including measures in the range from one zolotnik to two pounds, and some other unique articles.

In the Museum you will also see a large collection of balances intended for different purposes, standard and commercial balances manufactured by well-known Russian masters (P. Raashe, I. Goryachev, I. Mantsevich) at the Factories “Gosmetr” and “Etalon”, as well as those produced by leading world companies such as “Ertling”, “Ruprecht”, “Nemetz”, “Veber, Dene @ Co”. The museum exhibits sculptures and portraits of D.I. Mendeleyev by well-known Russian artists I.Ya. Gintsburg, M.B. Manizer, L.V. Sherwood, Olga and Nikolai Bruni.

A high level of metrology culture of Russia draws attention to its metrological exhibits not only of metrologists and historians of science, but also a much broader circle of people from all over the world.

The Metrological Museum:

provides an educational base for pupils of secondary schools and students of higher educational establishments and faculties for training future specialists, whose educational program includes the fundamentals of metrology, standardization and certification;

provides consulting on the history of the Russian system of measures, the history of the activities of outstanding metrologists and the history of the State Service of Weights and Measures;

maintains contacts with the oldest scientists of the Institute and with relatives and descendants of the leading metrologists who render a significant assistance in replenishment, systematization and research of the scientists' personal files;

organizes exhibitions dedicated to memorable events in the history of metrology and anniversaries of outstanding metrologists;

prepares publications relating the history of metrology.

Why do good things come in small packages?

What are the requirements that the system of measures must meet “at all times and for all peoples”?

What does “Mendeleyev’s accuracy” mean?

You will find answers to these questions and learn many other things about metrology, the science of measurements and measurement standards, in the Metrological Museum of VNIIM.

Our address: 19, Moskovsky pr., St.Petersburg, 190005, Russia Phone: +7 812 323-96-76; 

Visits are organized by prior arrangement. Excursions are in Russian and English.

Open: Monday - Friday, 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.

Act out a dialogue planning a visit to the Metrological Museum of the D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology

Text D: Job Advertisements

Read one of the following Job Advertisements and find out the following information:

- job description;

- qualifications and experience of the candidate;

- benefits;

- how to apply.

Write an application letter to one of these companies.

Net Recruit Ltd Position: Metrology Engineer Location: Yorkshire, York Salary: Competitive salary, company pension, healthcare and other benefits. Our client is a market leading supplier of process control equipment for optoelectronic, wireless, and silicon semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. They require a Metrology Engineer to join their growing R&D Engineering team in York. The role will cover all aspects of the software lifecycle including analysing customer requirements, designing and developing new solutions to complex problems as well as maintaining existing systems. The ideal candidate will have: · BSc (MSc) in Metrolgy (Physics/Mathematics) with an applied background and relevant experience ·Image Processing, Algorithm development, Optimization techniques using MATLAB, R or other mathematical modelling and development tools · Experience in metrology or industrial inspection desirable ·A good grounding in professional software development for Linux using C or C++ ·A good knowledge of basic software development quality processes and procedures. ·Good motivational skills and the ability to work unattended where necessary. · Demonstrated teamwork and good written/verbal communication skills. Our client can only accept applications from candidates, who have a valid legal permit or right to work in the United Kingdom. If interested in the role of Metrology Engineer, simply apply via the button shown. Keywords: Metrology Engineer, Software Physicist, Linux, C++

CareerWise Recruitment Reference number:CW116104_1325674266 Number of Vacancies: 1 Region: Cork, Republic of Ireland Metrology Engineer required by CareerWise Recruitment for our Cork client to have responsibility for supporting R&D in the NPI process establishing the most suitable inspection process, selecting it within the existing ones or investigating new equipment and new technologies. Will be responsible for the creation, optimization and validation of the inspection programs. REQUIREMENTS: *Degree in engineering, quality or science related discipline desirable. *Completion of external GD&T related course desirable. *Must be familiar with programming languages (C++, Fortran, VB, DMIS, etc.) *Must be capable of spending long periods of time programming, debugging and validating complex inspection equipment *Previous experience in code programming desirable *Experience in design / quality / manufacturing / metrology in a high tech engineering environment desirable CareerWise Recruitment accepts that you do not wish your CV to be forwarded to any client company without your prior consent and gives an absolute assurance that this wish will be respected at all times. Contact Mike Morrissey on              00353 -21-4297536      for more information Or apply on line on link below  CareerWise Recruitment  www.careerwise.ie