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Measurement is the quantification of attributes of an object or event, which can be used to compare with other objects or events. [1] [2] In other words, measurement is a process of determining how large or small a physical quantity is as compared to a basic reference quantity of the same kind. [3]
A measure that takes values in the set of self-adjoint projections on a Hilbert space is called a projection-valued measure; these are used in functional analysis for the spectral theorem. When it is necessary to distinguish the usual measures which take non-negative values from generalizations, the term positive measure is used.
The definition, agreement, and practical use of units of measurement have played a crucial role in human endeavour from early ages up to the present. A multitude of systems of units used to be very common. Now there is a global standard, the International System of Units (SI), the modern form of the metric system.
Metrology is a wide reaching field, but can be summarized through three basic activities: the definition of internationally accepted units of measurement, the realisation of these units of measurement in practice, and the application of chains of traceability (linking measurements to reference standards).
In antiquity, systems of measurement were defined locally: the different units might be defined independently according to the length of a king's thumb or the size of his foot, the length of stride, the length of arm, or maybe the weight of water in a keg of specific size, perhaps itself defined in hands and knuckles.
The International System of Units, internationally known by the abbreviation SI (from French Système international d'unités), is the modern form of the metric system and the world's most widely used system of measurement.
Similarly, the angular measure degree and submultiples, arcminute, and arcsecond, are also sexagesimal and SI-accepted. The SI system derives from the older metre, kilogram, second (MKS) system of units, though the definition of the base units has evolved over time.
Used to measure the time between alternating power cycles. Also a casual term for a short period of time. centisecond: 10 −2 s: One hundredth of a second. decisecond: 10 −1 s: One tenth of a second. second: 1 s: SI base unit for time. decasecond: 10 s: Ten seconds (one sixth of a minute) minute: 60 s: hectosecond: 100 s: milliday: 1/1000 d ...