what are the limitations of MKS system? How were these overcome?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The limitations of the MKS (Meter-Kilogram-Second) system include:
- Lack of electrical units – It does not define standard units for electric current, voltage, resistance, etc.
- Incompatibility with other unit systems – It was difficult to use alongside systems like the CGS (Centimeter-Gram-Second) system.
- Limited applicability in scientific work – It was not comprehensive enough for all scientific and engineering needs.
- No coherent set of derived units – MKS lacked a unified set of derived units based on a consistent structure.
How these were overcome:
These limitations were overcome by developing the International System of Units (SI system), which expanded the MKS system by including additional base units and coherent derived units.
Explanation (300 words):
The MKS system was a significant step toward standardizing measurements, based on the meter (length), kilogram (mass), and second (time). However, as scientific and technological developments advanced, the limitations of the MKS system became evident.
One of the key issues was that the MKS system only covered three fundamental quantities—length, mass, and time. It did not include units for electrical quantities such as current, voltage, and resistance, which are essential in both physics and engineering. This made it insufficient for fields like electromagnetism and electronics.
Moreover, there was incompatibility between the MKS system and other measurement systems, especially the CGS system. The lack of a coherent set of derived units made conversions between systems cumbersome and error-prone. For example, in CGS, force is measured in dynes, while in MKS, it is in newtons—this created confusion in scientific communication.
To address these issues, the International System of Units (SI) was introduced in 1960 by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM). The SI system built upon the MKS system, adding new base units like the ampere (electric current), kelvin (temperature), mole (amount of substance), and candela (luminous intensity). This created a comprehensive and coherent system that could be universally used in all fields of science and technology.
The SI system also established a consistent set of derived units (like newton, joule, watt, pascal) based on these base units, ensuring easier calculations and communication. Thus, the SI system successfully overcame the limitations of the MKS system by expanding and organizing it into a complete and practical global standard.