MKS System
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://unitfyi.com/iframe/glossary/mks-system/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>
Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://unitfyi.com/glossary/mks-system/
Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://unitfyi.com/glossary/mks-system/)
Use the native HTML custom element.
Definition
A metric unit system based on the meter, kilogram, and second, which served as the direct predecessor of the modern SI system adopted in 1960.
Explanation
The MKS system was proposed by Giovanni Giorgi in 1901 to resolve inconsistencies in CGS electromagnetic units. It uses practical units: the newton for force (kg·m/s²), the joule for energy (kg·m²/s²), and the watt for power (kg·m²/s³). SI extended MKS by adding four more base units — the ampere, kelvin, mole, and candela — creating the complete seven-unit framework still used today.
RELATED ARTICLES
From milligrams to metric tons, this guide covers every major weight and mass unit with exact conversion factors, real-world examples, and a clear explanation of why weight and mass are not the same thing.
Volume Units Guide: Liters, Gallons, Cups, and MoreA thorough reference for every major volume unit—metric, US customary, imperial, and culinary—including exact conversion factors, US vs UK differences, and practical cooking and industrial examples.
Complete Guide to Length Units: From Nanometers to Light-YearsA comprehensive reference covering every major length unit—metric, imperial, nautical, and astronomical—with exact conversion factors and real-world scale examples.
RELATED TERMS
Metric Prefix
A prefix that indicates a decimal multiple or fraction of a unit (kilo-, mega-, milli-, micro-, etc.).
Hectare
A metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters or 2.471 acres.
Bar
A unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals, slightly less than standard atmospheric pressure.
Metric System
A decimal-based international system of measurement built on seven SI base units, used officially by every country in the world except the United States, Myanmar, and Liberia.
Decimal System
A base-10 numbering system in which each place value is ten times the next smaller value, forming the mathematical foundation of the metric system.