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In most parts of the world in 1970, the metric system is the standard system of weight and measures, at least it is legally recognised and used in international trade and industry together with local systems prevailing in each country. In certain countries, the metric system is the standard for all official transactions, notably in the countries of mainland Europe, Scandinavia and Japan. The United States and the United Kingdom legalised the metric system in 1866 and 1897 respectively but both countries retain systems based on the foot and the pound for popular usage and international trade. In Japan, the metric system was adopted in 1893 and in 1924 it became the official system, except in the case of traditional commodities.
The metric system was first proposed in 1670, in France, and until the 19th century the standard was based on one metre being equal to one ten-millionth part of the meridianal quadrant of the earth. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures was established in France in 1876. In 1960, the metric standard was redefined as follows : |
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1 metre= |
1,650,763.73 wavelengths under vacuum of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the energy levels 2p10 and 5d5 of the pure nuclide of Kr86
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1 Iitre = 0.001m3 |
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The tables of weights and measures given here are those of the metric system and the systems most widely prevailing outside the metric system - those of the United States and the United Kingdom. Also given are weights and measures of Japan which, though archaic, are of interest in this context. The British system (from which the American system is derived) is ancient in origin. The foot was introduced during the Roman occupation and integrated with the inch, a Saxon measure. Standards of volume, such as the bushel, are based on Old English standards of early date.
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