The Measure of All Things
The Measure of All Things

Author: Ken Alder

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2014-07-29

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 074324902X

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In June 1792, amidst the chaos of the French Revolution, two intrepid astronomers set out in opposite directions on an extraordinary journey. Starting in Paris, Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Delambre would make his way north to Dunkirk, while Pierre-François-André Méchain voyaged south to Barcelona. Their mission was to measure the world, and their findings would help define the meter as one ten-millionth of the distance between the pole and the equator—a standard that would be used “for all people, for all time.” The Measure of All Things is the astonishing tale of one of history’s greatest scientific adventures. Yet behind the public triumph of the metric system lies a secret error, one that is perpetuated in every subsequent definition of the meter. As acclaimed historian and novelist Ken Alder discovered through his research, there were only two people on the planet who knew the full extent of this error: Delambre and Méchain themselves. By turns a science history, detective tale, and human drama, The Measure of All Things describes a quest that succeeded as it failed—and continues to enlighten and inspire to this day.

Importing Into the United States
Importing Into the United States

Author: U. S. Customs and Border Protection

Publisher:

Published: 2015-10-12

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781304100061

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Explains process of importing goods into the U.S., including informed compliance, invoices, duty assessments, classification and value, marking requirements, etc.

A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles
A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles

Author: Ronald Edward Zupko

Publisher: American Philosophical Society

Published: 1985

Total Pages: 572

ISBN-13: 9780871691682

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The complexity of medieval & modern pre-metric weights & measures (W&M) in Britain presents an obstacle to scholarly research on Western European econ. history. The problem is: the approx. dimensions of many non-standardized measuring units, used by both the Crown & the regional & local markets, varied from time to time & from place to place; & the dimensions even of standard W&M used in any period are poorly understood. This book will clarify the confusion & bring a new focus to the field of metrology & a new understanding of the units. It includes: tables for rapid identification of all ruling English, Scottish, Irish, or Welsh sovereigns; current English Imperial, Amer. Customary, & metric units; & the basic equiv. for these W&M; & A Dict. of Brit. W&M.