CHAPTER 1 - Units and Principles of Electronic Measurements

Abstract

This chapter discusses the units and principles of electronic measurements. This chapter explains three principles and units of electronic measurements: (1) the MKS. system, (2) the SI system, and (3) absolute measurements. The MKS system was defined by Giorgi, who stated that if the units of mass, length, and time were taken as the kilogram, meter, and second, respectively, and one electrical unit (the ampere) added, then a completely self-consistent system of units could be devised such that the fundamental electrical units were the same as the practical ones. The MKS unit of work or energy is the work done or energy expended when a force of one newton acts through a distance of one meter. The Système International d’Unités is a rationalized set of metric units now coming into international use. It consists basically of the MKSA system with the addition of the degree Kelvin for temperature measurement and the candela for use in the measurement of luminous intensity. However, some of the units have been renamed; flux density is measured in teslas instead of webers per square meter, conductivity is measured in siemens instead of mhos, and frequency is measured in hertz instead of cycles/second. An absolute measurement is one made in terms of the fundamental units of length, mass, and time in the system being used.