The original definition of a meter was
A) the distance from the extended index finger of the Emperor Napoleon to his nose
B) one thousandth of the distance from Paris to London
C) one billionth the distance from the Earth to the Sun
D) one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to its pole
E) one thousandth the diameter of the town of Bayonne, New Jersey

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The original definition of a meter was based on measurements of the Earth's size. Specifically, it was defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to its pole. This definition was established by the French Academy of Sciences in 1791.

The Original Definition of a Meter Was