UNIVERSIDAD DE SAN CARLOS DE GUATEMALA FACULTAD DE INGENIERA IDIOMA TCNICO 1

MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

Nombre: Carn: Profesor(a): Fecha:

Mario Alejandro Posadas Morales 201403640 Esvin Oxlaj 27 de febrero de 2014

Index

INTRODUCTION

OBJECTIVES

HISTORY

MESUAREMMENT SYSTEM IN GUATEMALA

CONCLUSIONS

ANNEXES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Introduction

Measure units or a measurement system are used to express and compare a size of a real physically quantity, in connection with a basic unit that is set for that type of magnitude. The target of the measurement system is to be valid and invariable, and can be used and comprehended by everyone around the world and any application ward off confusion, errors and difficulties in human communication. In Guatemala the measure unit is the metric system, even so in Guatemala are another measurements that are used in from other measurements like the English system and some form Spanish system. We all know that is an essential thing known the metric system applied in our country, because are so many things that are made using different measurement systems, so it is indispensable to know the equivalences of the metric system in other measurement systems.

Objectives

Make known the units of measurement used in Guatemala.

Explain what a unit of measure is.

Explain what the International System of Units

History

Primitive societies needed rudimentary measures for many tasks: constructing dwellings of an appropiate siza and shape, fashioning clothing and bartering food or raw materials. When it was necessary to compare the capacities of conainers such as gourds or clay or metal vessels, they were filled with plant seeds that were then counted to measure the volumes. After the French Revolution gave rise to acceptance of the metric system, and this has spread around the world, replacing most customary units of measure. In most systems, length (distance), weight, and time are fundamental quantities. Later science developments showed that either electric charge or electric current may be added to complete a minimum set of fundamental quantities by which all other metrological units may be defined. (However, electrical units are not necessary for a minimum set. Gaussian units, for example, have only length, mass, and time as fundamental quantities.) Other quantities, such as power, speed, etc. are derived from the fundamental set; for example, speed is distance per unit time. The invention of numbering systems and the science of mathematics made it possible to create whole systems of measurement unit suited to trade and commerce, land division, taxation, and scientific research. Whit the limited international exchange of goods and communication of ideas, it is not surprising that different systems for the same purpose develop and became established in different parts of the world or in different parts of the same country, like in case of Guatemala.

Measurement system in Guatemala

Guatemalans use the metric system, but also some traditional units of measurement (that come from Spain) and influence from US English units. You buy gas by the gallon, drive stretches of road in kilometres. Among the Guatemalan units of measurement some are based on old Spanish units; they include the vara and cuadra linear measurements; the vara cuadrada, the manzana and the cuerda units of area; and the libra, arroba, quintal and garrafn units of weight and volume. In Guatemala metrology arises in 1969-1970 with electrical metrology lab, installed in the Research Centre of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, with the support of the Organization of American States (OAS), due the initiative shown by the pioneering metrology nationally Engineer Rodolfo Koenigsberger. In 1975 the metro project "Promotion of standardization, testing and science of measurement" under the auspices of the German government is established in the Central Institute for Industrial Research and Technology (ICAITI), based in Guatemala, to give support industry in the region. The project was advised by the Federal Institute of Physics and Metrology (PTB) of Germany, but for various reasons the project started until 1990. The metrology lab providing ICAITI watched metrological services to all countries in the region. In 1985 achieved the Organization of American States allocates funds to implement the Project Creation Lab Metrology Guatemalan Standards Commission (COGUANOR), proceeding to purchase equipment and technical literature and hiring two professional engineering for the realization of the activities were defined, the laboratory worked on the 7th. And 5th Avenue. Street Zone 2 in the capital city but later transferred to the central building of the Ministry of Economy. COGUANOR activities conducted on legal metrology (net content checking prepackaged products) during the period from 1986 to 1996. In late 1996, the Board determined that the COGUANOR metrology activities did not correspond to the functions of a standards body, so he instructed the Executive Secretary not continue the execution of such activities. The equipment purchased

was transferred to the laboratory of metrology ICAITI who had appropriate environmental conditions for safekeeping. In 1998, the governments of the Central American countries decide ICAITI closing activities and bring to public notice the instrumental metrology laboratory for the purpose of obtaining funds for the payment of employee benefits staff of the Institute. Finally, the Government of Guatemala purchase the equipment, which is stored in the building of the old ICAITI II. In 2000, the Government of the Republic of conscious process of globalization of the economy and the commitments made to the signing of the Act of Marrakech establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as those made at the various agreements and trade agreements signed by the Executive and ratified by Congress, created by Government Agreement 182-2000, the address que19 National Quality System integrates with the Guatemalan Standards Commission and the Department of Metrology, manager to direct and organize the process of metrology in the country. Later in the month August 2001, the Ministry of Economy inaugurates temporary facilities at the National Metrology Laboratory, as the institution responsible for the custody and maintenance of national primary standards of the legal units of measurement, for which is comprised of areas of mass, temperature measurement, volume, pressure, dimensional, force and power. The vara cuadrada or square vara is commonly used in land transactions in Guatemala and 10,000 square varas equal one manzana. One square vara equals 0.6987 square metres (7.521 sq ft), while one manzana equals 6,987 square metres (1.727 acres). A Spanish pound (libra) is 460 grams. Some United States customary units are also used. These include inches, feet, miles, gallons, pounds (note the Spanish pound is also used) and ounces. In shops you will find mixture of almost all measures, and you have to be careful when estimating relation between price and amount that you get.

In fact in Tuesday 8th January 2002, is available the application of validation from the measurement units for tariff items, established in the electronic display system accordance with the provisions of Article 6, second paragraph and Annex is enabled 21 of Agreement 59-2000 containing as for "Electric Policy or Customs Declaration" where the obligation under Article 20 of the Judicial Branch, use the metric system in the Republic was established, under the appropriate measurement units.

Conclusions

1. Guatemala does not use a single system of units. 2. There are basic measurements and derived units. 3. Humans have had the need to make measurements from remote times.

Annexes

Bibliography

1. VALERO, M. 2005. Fsica Fundamental. Edicin 10. Colombia. Editorial Norma S.A. pp. 16-19

2. MINISTERIO DE ECONOMA DE GUATEMALA. 2003. Direccin del sistema nacional de calidad. Guatemala: MINECO.