What can I do with perfectly precise “weights”?











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Suppose I have a few "weights". Half of them, and I know which half, has a mass EXACTLY, to infinite precision, twice the other half. I know that very quickly the weights will not be exactly related to each other, due to say dust from the air landing on them unequally. Taking that into account, what practical uses can I do with these weights that takes advantage of the fact that some are twice the mass of others?










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  • Nothing too fancy. What is the weights' material, is it highly resistant to rusting and wearing?
    – Alexander
    1 hour ago










  • You can crack nuts, if they are heavy enough.
    – Renan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    You can make perfectly precise bruises on the head of your rival when you give him the beat-down of his life. 😀
    – JBH
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    @elemtilas Except, you know, aside from it being a kilogram of platinum and thus worth almost $30,000...
    – Arkenstein XII
    42 mins ago






  • 1




    @ArkensteinXII -- well, yes. There is that! Put it on Ebay!
    – elemtilas
    32 mins ago















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












Suppose I have a few "weights". Half of them, and I know which half, has a mass EXACTLY, to infinite precision, twice the other half. I know that very quickly the weights will not be exactly related to each other, due to say dust from the air landing on them unequally. Taking that into account, what practical uses can I do with these weights that takes advantage of the fact that some are twice the mass of others?










share|improve this question






















  • Nothing too fancy. What is the weights' material, is it highly resistant to rusting and wearing?
    – Alexander
    1 hour ago










  • You can crack nuts, if they are heavy enough.
    – Renan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    You can make perfectly precise bruises on the head of your rival when you give him the beat-down of his life. 😀
    – JBH
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    @elemtilas Except, you know, aside from it being a kilogram of platinum and thus worth almost $30,000...
    – Arkenstein XII
    42 mins ago






  • 1




    @ArkensteinXII -- well, yes. There is that! Put it on Ebay!
    – elemtilas
    32 mins ago













up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











Suppose I have a few "weights". Half of them, and I know which half, has a mass EXACTLY, to infinite precision, twice the other half. I know that very quickly the weights will not be exactly related to each other, due to say dust from the air landing on them unequally. Taking that into account, what practical uses can I do with these weights that takes advantage of the fact that some are twice the mass of others?










share|improve this question













Suppose I have a few "weights". Half of them, and I know which half, has a mass EXACTLY, to infinite precision, twice the other half. I know that very quickly the weights will not be exactly related to each other, due to say dust from the air landing on them unequally. Taking that into account, what practical uses can I do with these weights that takes advantage of the fact that some are twice the mass of others?







technology






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asked 1 hour ago









roobee

423




423












  • Nothing too fancy. What is the weights' material, is it highly resistant to rusting and wearing?
    – Alexander
    1 hour ago










  • You can crack nuts, if they are heavy enough.
    – Renan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    You can make perfectly precise bruises on the head of your rival when you give him the beat-down of his life. 😀
    – JBH
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    @elemtilas Except, you know, aside from it being a kilogram of platinum and thus worth almost $30,000...
    – Arkenstein XII
    42 mins ago






  • 1




    @ArkensteinXII -- well, yes. There is that! Put it on Ebay!
    – elemtilas
    32 mins ago


















  • Nothing too fancy. What is the weights' material, is it highly resistant to rusting and wearing?
    – Alexander
    1 hour ago










  • You can crack nuts, if they are heavy enough.
    – Renan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    You can make perfectly precise bruises on the head of your rival when you give him the beat-down of his life. 😀
    – JBH
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    @elemtilas Except, you know, aside from it being a kilogram of platinum and thus worth almost $30,000...
    – Arkenstein XII
    42 mins ago






  • 1




    @ArkensteinXII -- well, yes. There is that! Put it on Ebay!
    – elemtilas
    32 mins ago
















Nothing too fancy. What is the weights' material, is it highly resistant to rusting and wearing?
– Alexander
1 hour ago




Nothing too fancy. What is the weights' material, is it highly resistant to rusting and wearing?
– Alexander
1 hour ago












You can crack nuts, if they are heavy enough.
– Renan
1 hour ago




You can crack nuts, if they are heavy enough.
– Renan
1 hour ago




1




1




You can make perfectly precise bruises on the head of your rival when you give him the beat-down of his life. 😀
– JBH
1 hour ago




You can make perfectly precise bruises on the head of your rival when you give him the beat-down of his life. 😀
– JBH
1 hour ago




1




1




@elemtilas Except, you know, aside from it being a kilogram of platinum and thus worth almost $30,000...
– Arkenstein XII
42 mins ago




@elemtilas Except, you know, aside from it being a kilogram of platinum and thus worth almost $30,000...
– Arkenstein XII
42 mins ago




1




1




@ArkensteinXII -- well, yes. There is that! Put it on Ebay!
– elemtilas
32 mins ago




@ArkensteinXII -- well, yes. There is that! Put it on Ebay!
– elemtilas
32 mins ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
4
down vote













The ways you can take advantage of these weights is really dependent on what kinds of advantages you are looking for. You can't make money in the stock market with them. You can't go to war with them. You can't make money in a casino with them (or can you?). You really have to figure out what sort of things you're interested in doing.



You may be interested in the IPK and its six official copies. Metrologists define the kilogram from the IPK. It's so special that it's never used to measure anything other than to compare it against the clone IPKs. And it has been drifting for some reason yet unknown to metrologists. They're about 50 micrograms off of being the same 1,000 grams masses.



So what can you do with these masses? Well, you can look at what metrologists do with their IPKs. If there was anything more valuable to be done with them, you'd see them doing it.



Of course, next May, we are finally shifting off of this standard. Instead, the kilogram will be fixed precicely to Planks constant.



Avagadro's number is also getting fixed, which means the number of atoms in a kilogram mass like this is fixed:



enter image description here



So at the very least, your masses should be good for one heck of a good guess for "how many jelly bean atoms are in this jelly bean jar!"






share|improve this answer





















  • THANK YOU for that article about shifting the SI standard. I didn't know that and I'm delighted to read it. What an amazing thing. Will the world collapse for it? Heavens, no! But I'll be able to sue Hostess for not giving me every gram of that dang Twinkie!
    – JBH
    1 hour ago


















up vote
1
down vote













Nothing. Perfectly precise weights are only useful if you intend to build a standard based off of it like the current SI units and the definition of a Kilogram (before they changed it). Of course the biggest issue would be getting everyone to agree to your perfectly precise standardized weight (Stares at America in particular) and your weight can't change. So that's no touching and no decaying checked off. Outside of that, your weight is just a weight.



Things you can do with a weight:




  • Hold down paper

  • Lift it for sick gains

  • Throw it

  • Tell people how perfect it is and have them proceed to touch or breath on it changing the weight

  • Hold open a door

  • Compare it to yourself and figure out how much you weigh

  • Compare it to other products to determine how much they weigh

  • Do some math problems involving X, 2X and 1/2 X






share|improve this answer





















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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
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    up vote
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    The ways you can take advantage of these weights is really dependent on what kinds of advantages you are looking for. You can't make money in the stock market with them. You can't go to war with them. You can't make money in a casino with them (or can you?). You really have to figure out what sort of things you're interested in doing.



    You may be interested in the IPK and its six official copies. Metrologists define the kilogram from the IPK. It's so special that it's never used to measure anything other than to compare it against the clone IPKs. And it has been drifting for some reason yet unknown to metrologists. They're about 50 micrograms off of being the same 1,000 grams masses.



    So what can you do with these masses? Well, you can look at what metrologists do with their IPKs. If there was anything more valuable to be done with them, you'd see them doing it.



    Of course, next May, we are finally shifting off of this standard. Instead, the kilogram will be fixed precicely to Planks constant.



    Avagadro's number is also getting fixed, which means the number of atoms in a kilogram mass like this is fixed:



    enter image description here



    So at the very least, your masses should be good for one heck of a good guess for "how many jelly bean atoms are in this jelly bean jar!"






    share|improve this answer





















    • THANK YOU for that article about shifting the SI standard. I didn't know that and I'm delighted to read it. What an amazing thing. Will the world collapse for it? Heavens, no! But I'll be able to sue Hostess for not giving me every gram of that dang Twinkie!
      – JBH
      1 hour ago















    up vote
    4
    down vote













    The ways you can take advantage of these weights is really dependent on what kinds of advantages you are looking for. You can't make money in the stock market with them. You can't go to war with them. You can't make money in a casino with them (or can you?). You really have to figure out what sort of things you're interested in doing.



    You may be interested in the IPK and its six official copies. Metrologists define the kilogram from the IPK. It's so special that it's never used to measure anything other than to compare it against the clone IPKs. And it has been drifting for some reason yet unknown to metrologists. They're about 50 micrograms off of being the same 1,000 grams masses.



    So what can you do with these masses? Well, you can look at what metrologists do with their IPKs. If there was anything more valuable to be done with them, you'd see them doing it.



    Of course, next May, we are finally shifting off of this standard. Instead, the kilogram will be fixed precicely to Planks constant.



    Avagadro's number is also getting fixed, which means the number of atoms in a kilogram mass like this is fixed:



    enter image description here



    So at the very least, your masses should be good for one heck of a good guess for "how many jelly bean atoms are in this jelly bean jar!"






    share|improve this answer





















    • THANK YOU for that article about shifting the SI standard. I didn't know that and I'm delighted to read it. What an amazing thing. Will the world collapse for it? Heavens, no! But I'll be able to sue Hostess for not giving me every gram of that dang Twinkie!
      – JBH
      1 hour ago













    up vote
    4
    down vote










    up vote
    4
    down vote









    The ways you can take advantage of these weights is really dependent on what kinds of advantages you are looking for. You can't make money in the stock market with them. You can't go to war with them. You can't make money in a casino with them (or can you?). You really have to figure out what sort of things you're interested in doing.



    You may be interested in the IPK and its six official copies. Metrologists define the kilogram from the IPK. It's so special that it's never used to measure anything other than to compare it against the clone IPKs. And it has been drifting for some reason yet unknown to metrologists. They're about 50 micrograms off of being the same 1,000 grams masses.



    So what can you do with these masses? Well, you can look at what metrologists do with their IPKs. If there was anything more valuable to be done with them, you'd see them doing it.



    Of course, next May, we are finally shifting off of this standard. Instead, the kilogram will be fixed precicely to Planks constant.



    Avagadro's number is also getting fixed, which means the number of atoms in a kilogram mass like this is fixed:



    enter image description here



    So at the very least, your masses should be good for one heck of a good guess for "how many jelly bean atoms are in this jelly bean jar!"






    share|improve this answer












    The ways you can take advantage of these weights is really dependent on what kinds of advantages you are looking for. You can't make money in the stock market with them. You can't go to war with them. You can't make money in a casino with them (or can you?). You really have to figure out what sort of things you're interested in doing.



    You may be interested in the IPK and its six official copies. Metrologists define the kilogram from the IPK. It's so special that it's never used to measure anything other than to compare it against the clone IPKs. And it has been drifting for some reason yet unknown to metrologists. They're about 50 micrograms off of being the same 1,000 grams masses.



    So what can you do with these masses? Well, you can look at what metrologists do with their IPKs. If there was anything more valuable to be done with them, you'd see them doing it.



    Of course, next May, we are finally shifting off of this standard. Instead, the kilogram will be fixed precicely to Planks constant.



    Avagadro's number is also getting fixed, which means the number of atoms in a kilogram mass like this is fixed:



    enter image description here



    So at the very least, your masses should be good for one heck of a good guess for "how many jelly bean atoms are in this jelly bean jar!"







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 1 hour ago









    Cort Ammon

    107k17185381




    107k17185381












    • THANK YOU for that article about shifting the SI standard. I didn't know that and I'm delighted to read it. What an amazing thing. Will the world collapse for it? Heavens, no! But I'll be able to sue Hostess for not giving me every gram of that dang Twinkie!
      – JBH
      1 hour ago


















    • THANK YOU for that article about shifting the SI standard. I didn't know that and I'm delighted to read it. What an amazing thing. Will the world collapse for it? Heavens, no! But I'll be able to sue Hostess for not giving me every gram of that dang Twinkie!
      – JBH
      1 hour ago
















    THANK YOU for that article about shifting the SI standard. I didn't know that and I'm delighted to read it. What an amazing thing. Will the world collapse for it? Heavens, no! But I'll be able to sue Hostess for not giving me every gram of that dang Twinkie!
    – JBH
    1 hour ago




    THANK YOU for that article about shifting the SI standard. I didn't know that and I'm delighted to read it. What an amazing thing. Will the world collapse for it? Heavens, no! But I'll be able to sue Hostess for not giving me every gram of that dang Twinkie!
    – JBH
    1 hour ago










    up vote
    1
    down vote













    Nothing. Perfectly precise weights are only useful if you intend to build a standard based off of it like the current SI units and the definition of a Kilogram (before they changed it). Of course the biggest issue would be getting everyone to agree to your perfectly precise standardized weight (Stares at America in particular) and your weight can't change. So that's no touching and no decaying checked off. Outside of that, your weight is just a weight.



    Things you can do with a weight:




    • Hold down paper

    • Lift it for sick gains

    • Throw it

    • Tell people how perfect it is and have them proceed to touch or breath on it changing the weight

    • Hold open a door

    • Compare it to yourself and figure out how much you weigh

    • Compare it to other products to determine how much they weigh

    • Do some math problems involving X, 2X and 1/2 X






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      Nothing. Perfectly precise weights are only useful if you intend to build a standard based off of it like the current SI units and the definition of a Kilogram (before they changed it). Of course the biggest issue would be getting everyone to agree to your perfectly precise standardized weight (Stares at America in particular) and your weight can't change. So that's no touching and no decaying checked off. Outside of that, your weight is just a weight.



      Things you can do with a weight:




      • Hold down paper

      • Lift it for sick gains

      • Throw it

      • Tell people how perfect it is and have them proceed to touch or breath on it changing the weight

      • Hold open a door

      • Compare it to yourself and figure out how much you weigh

      • Compare it to other products to determine how much they weigh

      • Do some math problems involving X, 2X and 1/2 X






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        1
        down vote










        up vote
        1
        down vote









        Nothing. Perfectly precise weights are only useful if you intend to build a standard based off of it like the current SI units and the definition of a Kilogram (before they changed it). Of course the biggest issue would be getting everyone to agree to your perfectly precise standardized weight (Stares at America in particular) and your weight can't change. So that's no touching and no decaying checked off. Outside of that, your weight is just a weight.



        Things you can do with a weight:




        • Hold down paper

        • Lift it for sick gains

        • Throw it

        • Tell people how perfect it is and have them proceed to touch or breath on it changing the weight

        • Hold open a door

        • Compare it to yourself and figure out how much you weigh

        • Compare it to other products to determine how much they weigh

        • Do some math problems involving X, 2X and 1/2 X






        share|improve this answer












        Nothing. Perfectly precise weights are only useful if you intend to build a standard based off of it like the current SI units and the definition of a Kilogram (before they changed it). Of course the biggest issue would be getting everyone to agree to your perfectly precise standardized weight (Stares at America in particular) and your weight can't change. So that's no touching and no decaying checked off. Outside of that, your weight is just a weight.



        Things you can do with a weight:




        • Hold down paper

        • Lift it for sick gains

        • Throw it

        • Tell people how perfect it is and have them proceed to touch or breath on it changing the weight

        • Hold open a door

        • Compare it to yourself and figure out how much you weigh

        • Compare it to other products to determine how much they weigh

        • Do some math problems involving X, 2X and 1/2 X







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        Shadowzee

        6,7071132




        6,7071132






























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