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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement Hardcover - 2011

by Crease, Robert P


From the publisher

Millions of transactions each day depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. This network has been called a greater invention than the steam engine, comparable only to the development of the printing press.

Robert P. Crease traces the evolution of this international system from the use of flutes to measure distance in the dynasties of ancient China and figurines to weigh gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems. The former prevailed, with the United States one of three holdout nations. Into this captivating history Crease weaves stories of colorful individuals, including Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of the metric system, and American philosopher Charles S. Peirce, the first to tie the meter to the wavelength of light. Tracing the dynamic struggle for ultimate precision, World in the Balance demonstrates that measurement is both stranger and more integral to our lives than we ever suspected.

Details

  • Title World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
  • Author Crease, Robert P
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition U.S. Edition
  • Pages 317
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher W. W. Norton & Company, New York
  • Date 2011-10
  • ISBN 9780393072983
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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

by Robert P. Crease

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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

by Crease, Robert P.

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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

by Crease, Robert P.

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WORLD IN THE BALANCE : THE HISTORIC QUEST FOR AN ABSOLUTE SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT
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WORLD IN THE BALANCE : THE HISTORIC QUEST FOR AN ABSOLUTE SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT

by CREASE, ROBERT P

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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

by Crease, Robert P.

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World in the Balance : The Historic Quest for a Universal System of Measurement
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World in the Balance : The Historic Quest for a Universal System of Measurement

by Crease, Robert P

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World in the Balance : The Historic Quest for a Universal System of Measurement
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World in the Balance : The Historic Quest for a Universal System of Measurement

by Crease, Robert P

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World in the Balance : The Historic Quest for a Universal System of Measurement
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World in the Balance : The Historic Quest for a Universal System of Measurement

by Crease, Robert P

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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
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World in the Balance: The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

by Robert P. Crease

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ISBN 13
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ISBN 10
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