| Description |
224 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), maps (chiefly color), portraits (some color) ; 26 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 218-220) and index. |
| Contents |
Introduction -- [pt]. 1. The meaning of measuring -- ch. 1. Going metric -- The measurement of the Earth by the ancient Greeks -- Latitude and longitude -- Figuring the shape of the Earth -- Measuring the metre -- The metrication of the world -- ch. 2. Numbers and mathematics -- Counting and accounting -- Tallies, quipus and abacuses -- Ancient numerals -- Number bases -- Zero and infinity -- Coordinates -- Geometry -- The golden ration -- Fractals -- Mathematics : natural or human? -- ch 3. Customary units -- Weight and density -- Length and distance -- Area and volume -- Angle -- Money and value -- Time -- ch. 4. Instruments and techniques -- Accuracy and precision, error and uncertainty -- How long is a piece of string? -- Telescopes -- Microscopes -- Thermometers -- Barometers -- Seismographs -- Geiger counters -- Spectrometers -- Lasers -- national institutions for measurement -- |
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[pt]. 2. Measuring nature -- ch. 5. Atoms -- Atoms and quantum theory -- Atomic clocks -- Radioactivity and isotopes -- The periodic table - Ions and valency -- Chemical concentration -- Acidity and alkalinity -- Volume and pressure -- Temperature and energy -- Mass and the standard kilogram -- Materials, stress and strain -- Radiation and colour -- Relativity -- Sound -- Electricity and magnetism -- Nanotechnology -- ch. 6. Earth -- Compasses -- Surveying -- Satellites -- Weather and atmosphere -- Storms, hurricanes and tornadoes -- Lightning -- Climate change -- Geological eras -- Plate tectonics -- Earthquakes -- Tsunamis -- volcanoes -- Minerals, diamonds and gold -- Biological species -- ch. 7. Universe -- The heliocentric universe -- The motion of the planets -- The Moon -- Planets -- The Sun -- Stars -- Comets -- Black holes -- Constants of nature -- The expanding universe and the Big Bang -- |
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[pt]. 3. Measuring man -- ch. 8. Mind -- Language -- Verse metre and scansion -- Semaphore and Morse code -- Writing systems -- Shorthand -- Paper and book sizes -- Book and library classification -- Typography -- Photography -- Computing -- Tools, nails and screws -- Music and singing -- IQ and intelligence -- ch. 9. Body -- The human genome -- blood -- Medical scanning -- Eyes and lenses -- Body mass index -- Calorie count and food additives -- Alcohol content -- Air quality and pollen count -- Sun protection factor -- Medical prescriptions - - Disease incubation -- Pain -- Stress factors -- Textiles and togs -- ch. 10. Calendars -- Time zones -- Postal codes -- Opinion polls -- Censuses -- ID, truth and lies -- Race -- Military rank -- Gun calibre -- Economics -- Lotteries and gambling -- Sports and games -- Collective nouns -- Epilogue : The measure of all things -- Further reading -- Illustration credits -- Index. |
| Subject |
Measurement -- History.
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| ISBN |
9780500513675 cased |
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0500513678 cased |
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