Systems of Units
Unit are classified into two groups, fundamental units and derived units. A set of fundamental and derived unit is called a system of units. In 1832, Gauss suggested to select ant three physical quantities as fundamental quantities. Accordingly, many systems of units came into existence. Following are some examples of system of units used in which the base units of length, mass and time were are follows.
C.G.S. means
centimetre – gram – second system.
M.K.S. means
metre – kilogram – second system.
F.P.S. means
foot – pound – second system.
The C.G.S.
and M.K.S. systems were also known as metric systems, while the F.P.S. system
was a British system used in Great Britain and some other English speaking
nations.
The details
of fundamental and derived quantities are mentioned in sub unit 1.5.