Q4DQ - University Physics with Modern Physics

Question

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains several accurate copies of the international standard kilogram. Even after careful cleaning, these national standard kilograms are gaining mass at an average rate of about $\mathbf{1}\mathbf{ }\mathit{\mu }\mathit{g}\mathbf{/}\mathit{y}$ (y = year) when compared every  years or so to the standard international kilogram. Does this apparent increase have any importance? Explain.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The apparent increase in the mass does not have any importance. 

Step 1: Identification of the given data

The given data can be expressed below as:

• The national standards kilograms are gaining mass by$1 \mu g/y$ compared to every 10 years.

Step 2: Determination of the importance of increase of mass

The kg or the kilogram is the only “fundamental constant” that is not based on a particular universal constant. However, the time is described as the time required for a cesium atom’s microwave radiation of $9,129,631,770$ cycles. Moreover, the distance is described as the interval in which the light travels in $\frac{1}{299,792,458}$of a second.However, if the kilogram standard changes,the actual kilogram’s mass also changes.