Metrology, the scientific study of measurement, can be found all around us every single day. In fact, many advancements in technology and science would have been impossible without metrology. For example, experiments have to include measurements in order to compare end results; otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to record and analyze successes. You can find the use of metrology virtually everywhere, and here are four interesting ways it is used everyday.
Driving
When you get in your car, it’s easy to forget all of the parts and pieces that make up the actual vehicle. Metrology is crucial in the creation of cars. Without it, there would be no way to ensure that parts would fit together perfectly. Quality control would be nonexistent, which could result in a faulty and dangerous end product. Metrology allows manufacturers to measure each individual part to make sure it is within their precise specifications.
You also use metrology when you are driving your car. The speedometer is constantly measuring how fast you are going. Imagine if they didn’t exist: no one would know how fast they were going and speed limits would be impossible to enforce. You also need metrology to know how much gas you are getting per dollar at the gas station or how far each gallon could get you. The fuel level gauge on your dashboard measures the amount of gas you have so that you don’t run out while on the road. Without metrology, driving would be a dangerous guessing game.
Food & Nutrition
When you are following a recipe, you may notice all sorts of different measurements: teaspoon, tablespoon, and cup, among many others. When you use measuring spoons or cups to scoop up the exact amount of an ingredient, you are using metrology. Like with cars, manufacturers need quality control and specific measurements to ensure that each product is the same. Otherwise, your teaspoon would hold a completely different amount than someone else’s.
Measurements are important in nutrition, as well. It’s crucial to look at the nutrition facts on products to avoid exceeding daily values for sugar, fats, and calories. All of these would be impossible to measure without metrology.
Exercising
A big part of working out is measuring your improvements. If you want to get your mile time down, you first have to know how far a mile is. Then, you have to measure how long it took you to get there. Both of these require metrology – without it, there would be no way to keep up with your records. This would extend to competitions, as well. Your time in a 5k race might not be comparable to the next 5k because there wouldn’t be a way to make sure they were the same length.
Medicine
If you’ve ever had to take medication, you know how important dosage is. Taking too little might prove ineffective, while taking too much could be dangerous or even lethal. Metrology allows pharmacists to measure exactly how much is in a pill, and how many pills need to be taken. It’s also important in medical studies so that researchers can map out the correct doses based on age, weight, severity, and other specifications.
Final Thoughts
Next time you hop in the car or take a vitamin, take a moment to think about all of the ways metrology has impacted your everyday life. Advancements in almost every field rely on measurements in one way or another, and it helps in ensuring that the products we receive are exactly what we purchased. Without metrology, the world would be a very different place.
