Units and Measurement

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Scientists of different countries were using different systems of units for measurement. Three such systems, the CGS, the FPS (or British) system and the MKS system were in use extensively till recently.

The base units for length, mass and time in these systems were as follows :

In CGS system they were centimetre, gram and second respectively.

In FPS system they were a foot, pound and second respectively.

In MKS system they were a metre, kilogram and second respectively.

The system of units which is at present internationally accepted for measurement is the system Internationale Unites (French for International System of Units), abbreviated as SI.