System of Measurement

It is very important that all scientists use the same set of measurements when conveying their findings with each other. The universally accepted system is the SI variant of the metric system. It has seven base units. The meter for length, the kilogram for mass, the second for time, the candela for luminosity, the Kelvin for temperature, the mole for the amount of substance and the Ampere for current. All other units are derived or defined in terms of these basic units.

It is very important that scientists and engineers use these units. This is especially true on the international scale. NASA, at one time confused pounds of force with newtons and lost a unmanned shuttle giving them much unwanted publicity as well as an example for teachers to point out why units are important.