Dictionary · Standards & Units
Derived unit
A measurement unit for a derived quantity, formed as a product of powers of base units — the newton (kg·m·s⁻²) or the pascal (N/m²).
Related terms
More from Standards & Units
Numerical quantity value
The number in a quantity value — the 5.34 in 5.34 m: the ratio of the quantity to its unit.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.20
Standard reference data
Reference data issued by a recognized authority — the CODATA constants and NIST standard reference databases are the working examples.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.17
Primary measurement standard
A standard established using a primary reference measurement procedure, or created as an artifact chosen by convention — not calibrated against another standard for the same quantity.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 5.4
Unit equation
A mathematical relation between base and derived units — N = kg·m·s⁻².
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.23
System of quantities
A set of quantities together with the non-contradictory equations relating them — the framework a system of units is built on.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.3
Quantity equation
A mathematical relation between quantities in a system of quantities, independent of units — v = l/t regardless of whether metres or inches are used.
VIM (JCGM 200:2012) 1.22