The International System of Units (SI) rests on seven base units: the second (), the meter (), the kilogram (), the ampere (), the kelvin (), the mole () and the candela (). Since 2019 each is defined by fixing the numerical value of a constant of nature: the cesium hyperfine frequency defines the second; the speed of light then defines the meter; the Planck constant defines the kilogram; the elementary charge the ampere; the Boltzmann constant the kelvin; the Avogadro constant the mole; and a fixed luminous efficacy the candela. Every other unit is a derived unit, a product of powers of base units: , , , , .
Examples
Example 1.4 (Unpacking a derived unit)
The volt: . The ohm: . The farad: . Such unpacking is the safest check that a formula has been remembered correctly — the next section makes it systematic.