CMS Metrication History & Policy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which U.S. agency is responsible for promoting metrication and metric standards in the United States?
- EPA
- NIST (Correct answer)
- FDA
- OSHA
Correct answer: NIST
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the lead federal agency for metric policy and standards in the U.S.
Question 2: The redefinition of the SI in 2019 fixed the numerical values of which fundamental constants?
- Speed of light and Planck's constant only
- Seven fundamental constants including Planck's constant and Boltzmann constant (Correct answer)
- Avogadro's number and elementary charge only
- The mass of the International Prototype Kilogram
Correct answer: Seven fundamental constants including Planck's constant and Boltzmann constant
The 2019 SI redefinition fixed exact numerical values for seven fundamental constants, replacing artifact-based definitions.
Question 3: Which three countries are commonly cited as NOT having officially adopted the metric system as their primary system?
- USA, UK, Canada
- USA, Myanmar, Liberia (Correct answer)
- USA, Australia, India
- Myanmar, Liberia, China
Correct answer: USA, Myanmar, Liberia
The United States, Myanmar (Burma), and Liberia are traditionally cited as the only countries not officially using metric as their primary measurement system.
Question 4: Executive Order 12770, signed in 1991, directed all federal agencies to:
- Adopt metric by 1995
- Use metric in all new federal publications
- Transition to metric in all government activities as the preferred system (Correct answer)
- Require metric labeling on consumer products
Correct answer: Transition to metric in all government activities as the preferred system
Executive Order 12770 directed federal agencies to transition to the metric system in their activities, reinforcing the 1988 mandate.
Question 5: The modern SI was formally established in:
- 1875
- 1901
- 1960 (Correct answer)
- 1983
Correct answer: 1960
The modern SI (Système International d'Unités) was formally established by the 11th CGPM in 1960.
Question 6: Which U.S. legislation requires metric labeling on consumer products?
- Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (Correct answer)
- Metric Conversion Act
- Consumer Product Safety Act
- Food Drug and Cosmetic Act
Correct answer: Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires consumer products to display metric quantities alongside customary units.
CMS Metrication History & Policy 2
Which U.S. agency is responsible for promoting metrication and metric standards in the United States?