Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Units and Standards of Measurement

Units and Standards of Measurement

A physical quantity is defined either by specifying its measurement method or by stating how it is calculated from other measurements. For example, consider a metallic cube. We might define its mass and dimensions by specifying methods for measuring them, such as using a weighing machine and a meter scale. Then, we could define the volume by stating that it is the cube of its side, and we could calculate the density as the mass divided by the volume.
Measurements of physical quantities are...

Units and Standards of Measurement

Units and Standards of Measurement

A physical quantity is defined either by specifying its measurement method or by stating how it is calculated from other measurements. For example, consider a metallic cube. We might define its mass and dimensions by specifying methods for measuring them, such as using a weighing machine and a meter scale. Then, we could define the volume by stating that it is the cube of its side, and we could calculate the density as the mass divided by the volume.
Measurements of physical quantities are...

SI Units: 2019 Redefinition

SI Units: 2019 Redefinition

Measurement is an indispensable part of analytical chemistry. The result of measurement helps quantify a substance's physical property and compare it with the physical property of another substance. Each measurement comprises two components - a number indicating the magnitude and a unit of measurement as a standard for comparison. Further, the same quantity can be measured using different units of measurement, which leads to differences in magnitude.
A standard set of units has been defined to...

International System of Units

International System of Units

The International System of Units, known as the SI system, is a universally accepted measurement system recognized and used worldwide. The SI system is based on a set of three base units considered absolute, and their values do not change with location. These base units are meters, kilograms, and seconds.
Prefixes are used to define both larger and smaller quantities in the SI system. For example, milli, micro, and nano define smaller quantities, while kilo, mega, and giga are used to define...

Base Quantities and Derived Quantities

Base Quantities and Derived Quantities

In any system of units, the units for some physical quantities must be specified through a measurement process. These measurements are the base quantities of the system, and their units are the base units of the system. The algebraic combinations of the base values can then be used to express all other physical quantities. Each of these physical quantities is then referred to as a derived quantity, with each unit being referred to as a derived unit.
The International Organization for...

Measurement: Standard Units

Measurement: Standard Units

Every measurement provides three kinds of information: the size or magnitude of the measurement (a number), a standard of comparison for the measurement (a unit), and an indication of the uncertainty of the measurement. While the number and unit are explicitly represented when a quantity is written, the uncertainty is an aspect of the errors in the measurement results.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Considerations for the Scientific Support Process and Applications to Case Studies.

International journal of sports physiology and performance·2018

Same author

Can we trust "Magnitude-based inference"?

Journal of sports sciences·2018

Same author

Estimation versus falsification approaches in sport and exercise science.

Journal of sports sciences·2018

Same author

Editorial.

Journal of sports sciences·2017

Same author

Effects of a lifestyle intervention on endothelial function in men on long-term androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

British journal of cancer·2016

Same author

Misuse of "Power" and Other Mechanical Terms in Sport and Exercise Science Research.

Journal of strength and conditioning research·2015

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Published on: March 20, 2012

Exercise defined and quantified according to the Systeme International d'Unites.

Edward M Winter¹, Neil Fowler

¹Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. e.m.winter@shu.ac.uk

Journal of Sports Sciences

|March 3, 2009

Summary

This review identifies non-compliance in exercise science definitions and proposes universal, SI-compliant terms for physical activity, sport, and rehabilitation. It defines exercise as a homeostatic disruption via muscle activity.

More Related Videos

Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training

Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training

Published on: October 10, 2019

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Published on: March 20, 2012

Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training

Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training

Published on: October 10, 2019

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Published on: April 18, 2011

Area of Science:

Sport and exercise science
Physiology
Biomechanics

Background:

Accurate quantification of exercise and physical activity is crucial in sport and exercise science.
Current definitions and nomenclature often fail to adhere to the Systeme International d'Unites (SI).

Purpose of the Study:

To identify non-compliance in existing definitions and nomenclature for exercise and physical activity.
To propose universal, SI-compliant definitions and nomenclature for exercise and related terms.

Main Methods:

Literature review to identify instances of non-compliance with SI standards.
Development of proposed definitions and nomenclature for exercise and physical activity.

Main Results:

Identified frequent non-compliance with SI principles in exercise science terminology.
Proposed a universal definition of exercise: a potential disruption to homeostasis by muscle activity (concentric, eccentric, or isometric).

Conclusions:

Universal, SI-compliant definitions are necessary for accurate scientific communication in exercise science.
The proposed definitions apply across diverse contexts, including elite sport, daily living, and clinical rehabilitation.