CMS Metrication History & Policy 3

Question 1

The Mars Climate Orbiter was lost in 1999 primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

A metric/imperial unit mismatch between contractors

Answer

The Mars Climate Orbiter was lost because one engineering team used imperial units while another used metric, causing a navigation error.

Question 2

Which international agreement governs the maintenance and dissemination of SI units globally?

Accepted Answer

Metre Convention

Answer

The Metre Convention (Treaty of the Metre), signed in 1875, governs international cooperation on measurement standards and the SI.

Question 3

Before 2019, the kilogram was defined by:

Accepted Answer

A physical platinum-iridium alloy artifact stored in France

Answer

Until 2019, the kilogram was defined by the International Prototype of the Kilogram, a platinum-iridium cylinder kept at the BIPM in Sèvres.

Question 4

The Omnibus Trade Act of 1988 designated the metric system as the preferred system for U.S. trade but made metrication mandatory for:

Accepted Answer

Federal agencies only

Answer

The 1988 act made metric mandatory for federal agencies but left private sector metrication voluntary.

Question 5

Which organization publishes the 'Metric Style Guide' used as a reference for metrication specialists in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

NIST

Answer

NIST publishes the official metric style guide (NIST SP 811) that serves as the authoritative reference for metric usage in the U.S.

CMS - Certified Metrication Specialist Practice Test