Official prototype of kilogram mysteriously losing weight

They have multiple copies of it, but only the one in France is the "official" standard.

Its a conspiracy! Dubya and his cronies have been sneaking in and shaving the cylinder. Little by little.

How does the US get more gold in its reserve. Easy, you lower the weight of a Kilogram, hence more kg's of gold.

Shame Gold weight is measured in Ounces.


Im sure somebody just blew the dust off the cylinder before they measured it.

Originally posted by lonemaverick
They have multiple copies of it, but only the one in France is the "official" standard.

Were the multiple copies made before or after the cylinder went on a radical weight loss regime

Originally posted by djohnsto77
That lump of metal will be replaced soon anyway:

A Set Of Perfect Balls, A New Standard For The Kilogram

Well I've already got a set ........ oh never mind.

Interesting point: I heard the Chinese system for weights and measures was originally based on harmonics. The deal was something like a bell made to a specific size of a specific material would make a specific note ~ hence hold a specific amount of rice or something. Any one know about that?

If, as researchers surmise, the earth is actually slowing down then this loss in weight could be a good indicator of proof. If the earth has slowed down significantly (and it wouldn't have to be much) then this would effect things like the earths magnetic field and ultimately, gravity which could be measured in the loss off weight seen in this kilogram. If it were fingerprints then the mass would actually have gained weight and I don't believe any cleaners used on it would have any effect as they would be sure to avoid using anything corrosive or abrasive.

Though you can simulate 'artificial gravity' in, say, a rotating space craft (like Kubrick's double-wheel), the speed of the Earth's rotation is not related to gravitational effects.

It's tempting to compare the Earth to a spinning record turntable or something but it doesn't work that way.

There is -some- acceleration due to centripetal force, but it's very small compared to gravity.

Gravity on Earth=32 feet per second, per second (or 9.8m/s/s).
Centripetal force on Earth due to the Sun's gravity=0.01 fps/s (or 0.006m/s/s)

One way to look at it is things don't change in weight as you get to the north pole where there is no rotation.

For Physics Geeks

Essentially the effects of composition and rotation of the Earth on gravity is negligible (on the order of 10e-17).





[edit on 14-9-2007 by Badge01]