Measures weights. Weights of bulk products

When asked about the characteristics of a particular thing, most likely, among other features, its mass will be named. Today, weight in most countries is measured in kilograms. But it was not always so, and now other systems are used.

Necessity of measurement

The need to understand how much one or another thing weighs, probably, arose simultaneously with the appearance of commodity-money relations. Why prior to this were such calculations? To divide the crop, sell something or buy - all these actions require at least a rough measurement of the mass. This, in turn, requires the introduction of more or less universal and understandable units, as well as special instruments - weights. This is how different countries have their own systems, some of which exist now.

History: examples in the West

As is known, until a certain point, England was the leading power, and it was her Imperial system of measures that eventually became used by most European states, as well as colonies. In its version, the mass was designated as follows:

So, the remnants of this system still exist in one form or another. Despite the long-changed standards, in many areas the old measures of weights are still used. But gradually they are all the same superseded.

Since solids are more difficult to weigh, it was generally more convenient to proceed from volume measures. The British used pints, approximately 0.568 liters, for this purpose. A measure with this name is used now in the US, but it is already equivalent to 0.55 liters.

In Russia and in Russia

Prior to the adoption of the standard system, there existed its own, overlapping with the English one. Some units had the same names, but differed in size, which in international trade turned out to be a terrible mess. So, in Russia the following measures of weights were used:

Obviously, some of the names were removed from the English system, although the original ones were preserved. Especially foreign in this case is the measure of the weights "pound", which, however, has quite taken root. Some names
Are used now, but in other meanings. For example, the hryvnia became the name of a monetary unit.

Of course, the age-old Russian measure of weight is a pood, which is reflected in numerous winged expressions. Perhaps, with its loss, much of the identity was lost, but for the sake of convenience, sometimes you have to sacrifice something. Pud remained in the people's memory, proverbs, sayings and simply winged expressions.

Loose products were evaluated using special "bread" measures - quarters, octopuses and fins. For liquids, the chetverik and garnets were also used.

Eastern states

China, Japan and other Asian countries have always been a mystery to Europeans. These states have developed on their own, so it is not surprising that they have their own measures of weight and volume. Despite the fact that China has adopted a standard system for a long time, which will be discussed below, in markets even in central cities the main trade unit remains jin, equal to 0.5 kg. That's why you need to be more careful while shopping. In other words, this unit is sometimes called the Chinese pound.

In a number of countries in South-East Asia, a similar unit is also used - ketti, which is approximately 600 grams. It is still used in Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Burma.

Special measures

It is not always convenient to use a standard system. For example, not every housewife in the kitchen holds scales to accurately measure the mass of products in accordance with the recipe. Yes, special jugs with marks are used, especially for But, nevertheless, most women prefer to use their own dishes to measure. This habit was vaccinated to most Russian housewives by their mothers and grandmothers, because in the USSR all glasses, for example, were completely standard. So this method was extremely convenient, if the recipes were transferred from a friend to a friend. And although this system is gradually disappearing into the past, some housewives continue to either pour or put products "by eye", or use the familiar and familiar "glasses", "teaspoons" and "at the tip of the knife."

Pharmacy system

At all times the preparation of medicines required the most careful calculations and
Measurements. After all, according to the famous expression, belonging to Paracelsus, everything is poison, everything is medicine; Both determine the dose. So it was the apothecaries who needed the most accurate scales and the most stringent standards of measures, because the slightest deviation from the prescription had at best such consequences as the inefficiency of the remedy.

That is why the system of weight measures for the pharmacists was separate. And still in different countries, the values varied, even if they were borrowed.

So, it is obvious that the difference in the systems could lead to enough
Unpleasant consequences. In addition to it, the coincidence in the name of pharmacy and trade measures could also cause confusion. That's why there was
The general need for unification - so that the measures of the scales everywhere were the same.

Over time, a system has been developed that is now used by the majority both in the manufacture of medicines and in trade. And the pharmacy measure of the scales is a thing of the past, leaving the pharmacists an inheritance of incredibly accurate measuring instruments.

Modern standard system

It became clear that the heterogeneous measures of the weights are inconvenient to translate into each other. Given the fact that some names coincided, and their meanings were not, the question arose of introducing common standards. And the first steps to implement this initiative were taken after the Great French Revolution. In 1875, the Metric Convention was signed, so that a more or less general system of measures of weight, length, temperature and other quantities was created. It was repeatedly supplemented and improved. As a result, the so-called International System of Units (SI) was developed, based on seven basic values: meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole and candela.

At present, all the states of the world, except for three, have adopted this standard as the main or only one. Exceptions are the United States, Liberia and Myanmar. That is why Americans, who are not accustomed to conventional units, are often lost abroad and are confused.

Reference

What is accepted per kilogram? It would seem a strange question, but it does not make no sense. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures has an answer, because it is there that the standard of the kilogram is stored . It is made in the form of a cylinder made of a platinum-iridium alloy and has a diameter and a height of 39.17 mm. So you can see the real kilogram with your own eyes.