1.2 How to Use This Book Chapter 2 contains a brief history of the metric system, including the organization and a complete description of SI Units (Systeme International d''Unites). Chapter 3 gives a detailed description of a considerable number of other systems of measurement. This includes several alternative modern systems of measurement, some of which are still in widespread use (e.g. imperial, US, cgs, MTS, FPS). Finally, there is a description of systems used in antiquity (e.g. ancient Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew, Greek, Roman, Arabic), as well as older national or regional systems (e.g. French, Italian, German, Japanese). Chapter 4, which forms the most important part of the book, consists of an exhaustive set of conversion tables. This chapter covers the units in alphabe tical order. Each unit is fully described as follows: name, symbol(s), physical quantity, dimension, conversion factor, notes and definitions. The section covers some 2000 units, each with a precise conversion factor. Chapter 5 enables a unit to be identified from its area of application. For this purpose, units are classed in groups. It contains thirty five conversion tables ranging from mass to nuclear quantities. In order to facilitate use of this manual, several supplementary sections have been added to aid the researcher. These include tables of fundamental math ematical and physical constants to allow very precise calculation of conver sions. These form the sixth chapter of the book.
