Units of Measurement
The International System of Units, sometimes abbreviated as SI, is the measurement system officially adopted almost everywhere in the world. It consists of a set of seven base units that include second, metre, kilogram, ampere, kelvin, mole, and candela. These units allow an unlimited number of additional derived units, through which it is theoretically possible to measure everything in the universe. In addition to these units, there are others that can measure the same quantities. The distance and size of things can be measured in meters, but also converted in kilometres, miles, feet, inches or light years.
The 7 base units
This list shows the 7 base units, from which all other units of measure are derived.
Dimension Symbol | Quantity Name | Unit Symbol | Unit Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Electric Current | A | Ampere |
| J | Luminous Intensity | cd | Candela |
| L | Length | m | Metre |
| M | Mass | kg | Kilogram |
| N | Amount of Substance | mol | Mole |
| T | Time | s | Second |
| Θ | Thermodynamic Temperature | K | Kelvin |