Universal Constants: A New Foundation of Measurement

Students follow the work of STEM role models and scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as they push the boundaries of what’s possible when measuring mass, length, temperature, and time. In this curriculum, students visit artifacts, videos, and customized labs to study how measurements are based on universal constants. Watch students connect these changes to their knowledge of physical science and mathematics and explore how these carefully determined constants are essential to continued progress in science and engineering.

Appropriate Age Levels:
Grades 9-12

Key Vocabulary & Concepts:
Measurement, metrology, system international, precision, accuracy, mass, temperature, mole, standards, significant digits, nanotechnology