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A unit of measurement is a specific magnitude of a quantity, defined and adopted by convention, that is used as a standard for measuring the same kind of quantity. Any other quantity of that kind can be expressed as a multiple of the unit of measurement.
There are a few different systems of measurements used throughout the world. The two most common systems are the SI Units and US Customary Units.
1. SI Units (Standard Units)
The International System of Units is the metric system used in science and industry.
There are seven base units of measurement in the SI system:
- the kilogram (kg), for mass
- the second (s), for time
- the kelvin (K), for temperature
- the ampere (A), for electric current
- the mole (mol), for the amount of a substance
- the candela (cd), for luminous intensity
- the meter (m), for distance
2. US Customary Units
The US Customary Units are commonly used in the US and were developed from English units.
- Units of length: inch, foot, yard, mile
- Units of area: acre
- Units of volume: cubic inch, cubic foot, cubic yard
- Units of fluid volume: fluid ounce, pint, quart, gallon, teaspoon, tablespoon, cup
- Units of mass and weight: ounce, pound, ton, bushel (grain measurement)
- Units of temperature: degrees fahrenheit
