science

Metre–tonne–second system of units

Metre–tonne–second system of units is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Metre–tonne–second system of units rather than just read about it. In short: The metre–tonne–second (MTS) system of units was invented in France (hence the derived unit names sthène and pièze) where it became the legal system between 1919 and 1961. It was adopted by the Soviet Union in 1933 and abolished there in 1955.

Key takeaways

Metre–tonne–second system of units belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Metre–tonne–second system of units to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Metre–tonne–second system of units from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The metre–tonne–second (MTS) system of units was invented in France (hence the derived unit names sthène and pièze) where it became the legal system between 1919 and 1961. It was adopted by the Soviet Union in 1933 and abolished there in 1955. It was a coherent metric system of units, much as SI (itself a refinement of the MKS system) and the centimetre–gram–second system (CGS), but with larger units for industrial use, whereas the CGS system was regarded as only really suitable for laboratory use.

Units The base units of the MTS system are:

Length: metre Mass: tonne, 1 t = 103 kg = 1 Mg Time: second Some common derived units:

Volume: cubic metre or stere 1 m3 ≡ 1 st Force: sthène, 1 sn = 1 t⋅m/s2 = 103 N = 1 kN Energy: sthène-metre = kilojoule, 1 sn⋅m = 1 t⋅m2/s2 = 103 J = 1 kJ Power: sthène-metre per second = kilowatt, 1 sn⋅m/s = 1 t⋅m2/s3 = 103 W = 1 kW Pressure: pièze, 1 pz = 1 t/m⋅s2 = 103 Pa = 1 kPa = 1 cbar (centibar)

See also Foot–pound–second system of units (FPS) List of metric units Metre–kilogram–second system of units (MKS)

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Metre–tonne–second system of units

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Metre–tonne–second system of units claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Metre–tonne–second system of units before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Metre–tonne–second system of units ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Metre–tonne–second system of units

In research: Metre–tonne–second system of units appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Metre–tonne–second system of units in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Metre–tonne–second system of units is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Metre–tonne–second system of units, Metric system, Systems of units, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Metre–tonne–second system of units outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Metre–tonne–second system of units in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Metre–tonne–second system of units means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Metre–tonne–second system of units out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Metre–tonne–second system of units in simple terms?

Why does Metre–tonne–second system of units matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Metre–tonne–second system of units?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Metre–tonne–second system of units.