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NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrologyThe Science of Measurement164 Education Liaison & Outreach

1This is set up to be an interactive presentation. There are suggested points in the presentation to engage the crowd with questions, I suggest giving mini candy bars for rewards for participation. Keep attention and energy level high.Nanosphere Latex ParticlesTheMonodisperse Latex Reactor flew on the third Space Shuttle flight (STS-3), where it producedmicrospheres up to 5 microns in diameter. It was reflown on STS-4, STS-6, STS-7, and STS-11, ultimately producing microspheres up to 30 microns in diameter. These spheres were later tested and certified by the National Bureau of Standards.

NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTNCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTLets take a trip back in time

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Prehistoric people didnt have time to measure

4NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTBut over time.5NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTpeople started growing food

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and developing permanent settlements

7NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTSo, they needed a system of measurement

8NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTor there would be mayhem!

9NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTHistory of Measurement

10Quiz crowd to guess time of first standard, maybe give definition of standardNCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTEgyptian CubitUsed to build pyramidsDependent on the pharaohMissed calibration was punishable by death!

11NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTFast-forward 5000 years to current measurement systems

12NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetric System (SI)MassKilogram (kg)

LengthMeter (m)

TimeSecond (s)

TemperatureKelvin (K)

Electric CurrentAmpere (A)

Amount of SubstanceMole (mol)

Luminous IntensityCandela (cd)

International System of MeasurementSEVEN BASE UNITS13Quiz crowd to name all base unitsNCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTSimple to useBases of tenAll other units derived from primary sevenFor example: V = cm3 = 1 mLMetric System (SI)14Maybe quiz crowd about benefits of using metric systemNCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTNow, a couple of definitions

15NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTthe science that deals with measurement

to determine the dimension, quantity or capacity of somethingMeasureMetrology16Quiz crowd about definitionsNCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrology ConceptsUncertainty Value assigned to a measurement result that characterizes how well it is known/unknown

Measurement ResultPotential Value 17NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrology ConceptsTraceabilityUnbroken chain of comparisons to the SI units, all having stated uncertainties

NMIYou, the ConsumerInaccurate Measurements18NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrology ConceptsCalibrationSet of operations that establish the relationship between values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument and a reference standard

19NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrologist Designs and runs measurement calibrations & testsAnalyzes the results Determines the final accuracy of the device under testCalibration EngineerCalibration TechnicianMetrologist20NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrology CareersScientific Metrology Organization and development of measurement standards and their maintenance (highest level)

NIST Atomic ClockAccurate to 1 s in 20 million years21NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrology CareersIndustrial Metrology Adequate functioning of measurement instruments used in industry as well as production and testing processes

22NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrology CareersLegal Metrology Measurements that influence economic transactions, health and safety

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Who Needs Accurate Measurements?

24NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTPharmaceutical IndustryMetrology laboratories test weights and volume standards for pharmaceutical companies

Products include medicines like aspirin, antibiotics, vaccines, insulin, & vitamins

25FDA requires them to maintain measurement control of all quantities of materials during research (fines as much as $10,000 for failure to control quantities).NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTDefense IndustryMetrology laboratories test standards for many military and defense companies

These companies make the guidance systems for the Patriot missiles and other things that are

top secret26NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTSpace Station, Satellites.Metrology laboratories test standards for many companies that provide parts of the space shuttle

These parts include the metal, heat shield, electronics, fabrics, o-rings, optics, and tires

27Shuttle failures were measurement problems.NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTRetail MeasurementsState metrology laboratories test standards used to test retail scales and meters

These include gas pumps, produce scales, milk, bread and other packaged items, and price scanning systems

28The labs dont test the gas pumps..

State metrology laboratories test standards used by enforcement officials to test measuring systems used in retail.

These systems include.NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTWeights and Measures measurements affect more than $6.6 trillion of the $13.2 trillion U.S. GDP (1996)Who Needs Accurate Measurements? Everybody!

29NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTInterested in Metrology?Academic SubjectsPhysical SciencePhysicsMaterial PropertiesMathFormulaStatistical AnalysisComputer ScienceAutomation Programming Database BuildingWriting SkillsTechnical WritingManagement Systems30Preparation for Metrology Career

NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTInterested in Metrology?Academic SubjectsPhysical SciencePhysicsMaterial PropertiesMathFormulaStatistical AnalysisComputer ScienceAutomation Programming Database BuildingWriting SkillsTechnical WritingManagement SystemsMetrology community is facing a shortage of qualified, trained metrology personnel across the U.S.

31Preparation for Metrology CareerNCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTMetrology Ambassador Program32NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTFor More InformationNCSL International (NCSLI)www.ncsli.orgSpecial Thanks to FreeFoto.com, www.sxc.huDeveloped byNCSLI Committee 16433NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTSpecial Thanks to

FreeFoto.com, www.sxc.hu, Microsoft Office ClipartPresentation Developed byNCSLI Committee 16434NCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTQuestions, Comments, Suggestions?35