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Messages from the
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Stephen Patoray |
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Martin Milton |
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Measurements in a dynamic world As a mechanical engineer, the first thought that comes to my mind is that dynamics is a branch of applied physics, specifically the field of classical mechanics which is concerned with the study of forces and torques and their effect on motion. The study of dynamics falls under two categories: linear (quantities such as force, mass/inertia, displacement, velocity, acceleration and momentum) and rotational (quantities such as torque, moment of inertia/rotational inertia, angular displacement, angular velocity, angular acceleration and angular momentum). Very often, objects exhibit both linear and rotational motion. Numerous instruments are utilized in “dynamic” legal metrology; some examples are:
In English, however, the word “dynamic” relates not only to motion but also to change. One example that highlights this continuous and productive change which encompasses many different sciences (including metrology) and engineering disciplines is space travel. On December 17, 1903 the Wright brothers made the first controlled, self-powered sustained flight. On October 4, 1957, the USSR placed in orbit the Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite of Earth. On July 20, 1969, the first manned lunar landing was achieved by the United States’ Apollo 11 mission. In 1998 the first components of the International Space Station (ISS), or habitable artificial satellite, were put into low Earth orbit. In 2012, NASA’s Curiosity succeeded in landing on and exploring Mars. More recently in November 2014 the ESA’s Rosetta mission landed its Philae probe on a comet. In the metrology community we are now seeing significant changes related to the definition of certain SI units as work on the new definition of the kilogram nears completion. Research continues to be successful in refining values and equipment used in the definition and the mise en pratique of other SI units. While metrology, the science of measurement, is as old as human civilization it continues to constantly change; it continues to see forward acceleration and it continues to be dynamic. It is truly a fascinating time to be a part of this very dynamic work that we call “metrology”.
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Measurements in a dynamic world When we reflect on the rapid pace of change in the 21st century, we may say that “the only thing that is constant is change itself”. The needs for metrology, and how these needs are met, are no exceptions; it is a challenge to bring the benefits of a stable and accurate measurement system to a dynamic world. Many of the needs of society are met by new technologies, and it is essential that stable and accurate measurements are available to underpin them. The accurate knowledge of dynamic quantities is pivotal to progress in high technology whether it is the high-speed movements in a disk drive, the variations in supply and demand from renewable energy sources on electricity grids, or the drive for environmental improvement and fuel efficiency in the aerospace industry. Dynamic quantities also play an increasing role in established industries, such as the dynamic weighing of trains and trucks, and the monitoring of vibration and impact arising from the tyres and engines of cars. These applications of dynamic measurement bring particular challenges. Linking highly accurate long-term stable standards to dynamic in situ measurements in everyday applications is difficult and itself requires great innovation. Adapting our measurement capabilities to a dynamic world requires other steps too. The need to ‘future proof’ the International System of Units (the SI) is one of the key drivers for the redefinition planned for 2018. The changes will ensure the benefits of greater universality of the world’s measurement system, and open new opportunities for scientific and technological advances in the future. We all need dynamic people in dynamic organisations to address the challenges of measurement in a dynamic world.
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