Dictionary · Standards & Units
Conventional reference scale
A quantity-value scale defined by formal agreement — pH and the practical temperature scales are canonical examples.
Related terms
More from Standards & Units
Quantity dimension
The expression of a quantity's dependence on the base quantities as a product of powers of their dimensions — force has dimension L·M·T⁻².
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.7
Reference quantity value
A quantity value used as a basis for comparison with values of quantities of the same kind — a true value, a conventional value, or a standard's certified value, depending on context.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.18
Certified reference material (CRM)
A reference material accompanied by documentation issued by an authoritative body providing property values with uncertainties and traceability using valid procedures — per ISO 17034 practice.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.14
Secondary measurement standard
A standard established through calibration with respect to a primary standard for a quantity of the same kind.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.5
Submultiple of a unit
A unit obtained by dividing a given unit by an integer greater than one — the millimetre from the metre.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.18
Measurement unit
A real scalar quantity, defined and adopted by convention, with which any other quantity of the same kind is compared to express the ratio of the two quantities as a number.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.9