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World's Roundest Object!

Veritasium · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Physics & space (other)Fundamental physics

What it is

Veritasium explains the effort to redefine the kilogram, which was still defined by a physical artifact, and how a near-perfect silicon sphere from the Avogadro project helps. It also covers the history of the unit's odd naming.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended in kilogram-redefinition threads as a clear, short explainer of the Avogadro and Planck approaches.

  • 6 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2013, last 2018

What HN commenters said

  1. “this video is an imperative watch”

    Covers the Planck and Avogadro projects to redefine the kilo

    kunai, 2013-10 · Strong recommendation · in “The kilo is losing weight, changing all of science”

  2. “Fantastic video by Vertiasium on this”

    Fantastic video on the sphere for redefining the kilogram

    gsteinb88, 2014-07 · Strong recommendation · in “The Meter: The Measure of a Man”

  3. “there's a nice video on this”

    Nice video on the kilogram and its redefinition

    EGreg, 2013-10 · Recommendation · in “The kilo is losing weight, changing all of science”

  4. “it is also very interesting in it's own right.”

    Explains how the kilogram got its name

    JamieLewis, 2013-10 · Recommendation · in “The kilo is losing weight, changing all of science”

  5. “Well worth 10 minutes of your break today.”

    Short documentary on the metric system and the roundest object

    ozh, 2014-12 · Recommendation · in “Why Won’t America Go Metric?”

  6. “actually the whole video is excellent”

    Explains how the gram was defined from water

    aexaey, 2015-11 · Recommendation · in “Why nuclear energy is our best option at the moment”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: si units, avogadro project, metrology, veritasium, silicon sphere

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