[USMA:35619] Re: When was the joule introduced to SI?

[Bill Hooper]

On 2006 Jan 8 , at 6:25 PM, Pat Naughtin wrote: 1948 The joule and its definition were ratified by the CGPM as the official SI unit for energy. That may be true, but this discussion started with the question of when the joule was adopted as the SI unit of energy. The official adoption by CGPM of the name "Systeme International d'Unites" or "SI" did not occur until 1960 (although that name was recommended to CGPM by CIPM in 1956). So, if SI did not exist until 1960, I'm not sure anyone could say the joule was (or was not) part of SI at any date earlier than 1960. It is true that before the adoption of the "System International d'Unites" as the official name of the system, it had been called the "system international d'unites" in French. In those erlier days they were trying to develop AN international system of units. When they did, they decided to name it THE International System of Units. And it is also true that the name joule for the unit of energy was in use long before SI existed. Regards, Bill Hooper Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA ========================  SIMPLIFICATION begins with SI ========================