Perfect silicon spheres were developed to redefine the kilogram because the platinum kilogram was changing in weight even in extremely strictly controlled physical conditions. If dust can ruin the platinum kilogram, why are people allowed to touch the silicon version?

Question

How is it that the sphere doesn’t become ‘contaminated’ with extra atoms from skin, clothes or even breath? Or is it just that these contaminants are very easy to clean off afterwards?

In: Physics

Answer 1

They designed the sphere because they didn’t want the kilogram to be based on a physical object.so they made the sphere so that they could calculate the number of atoms of silicon in it, it is made up entirely of silicon 28.

Kilogram is now defined by planks constant.

You could watch an amazing video by veritasium – worlds roundest object.