tonne
Enable an AI agent to recognise the tonne as a mass unit, interpret quantities expressed in it, and decide which conversions and comparisons are valid.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
5 bundles · 9 layers · 16 findings · 24 questions
Tonne identity and scale Establishes what the unit denotes and its exact relationship to the kilogram.
Mass unit identity
Separates the mass unit from objects, measurements and other quantity kinds.
Tonne denotes mass
The tonne is a mass unit; it does not itself identify a material, load or weighing event.
- Does this occurrence denote the mass unit or a particular quantity expressed in that unit? definition
- Is the stated quantity mass, or does surrounding language indicate force, volume or another quantity kind? boundary
Kilogram anchor
Records the exact scale and the tonne's relationship to the SI.
Exact thousand kilograms
One tonne equals exactly 1000 kg, and the tonne is a non-SI unit accepted for use with the SI.
- Does the proposed interpretation preserve the exact relationship 1 t = 1000 kg? definition
- Which authoritative metrology reference will support the unit definition and SI-use status in the researched publication? provenance
Names, symbols and ton ambiguity Recognises tonne terminology and handles competing meanings of ton.
Explicit tonne designations
Handles the unit name, equivalent English terminology and case-sensitive symbol.
Name and symbol recognition
Tonne and metric ton identify this unit; its symbol is lowercase t and must be interpreted in context.
- Is the supplied designation tonne, metric ton or t used explicitly as a mass unit? definition
- Does the surrounding notation establish that t is a unit symbol rather than a variable or another local abbreviation? boundary
Competing ton designations
Keeps ambiguous and explicitly non-metric ton usages distinct from the tonne.
Unqualified ton needs evidence
An unqualified ton does not establish tonne identity; short tons and long tons are distinct units.
- What document definition, source metadata or explicit convention establishes which ton is intended? provenance
- Should conversion remain unresolved until the source confirms whether the quantity uses tonnes, short tons or long tons? action
Tonne quantities and calculation Determines when quantities expressed in tonnes can be converted, compared or combined.
Conversion and precision
Applies the exact unit factor while retaining the limitations of the supplied value.
Exact scale, limited measurement
Conversion to kilograms multiplies the numerical value by 1000; supplied absolute uncertainty scales by the same factor without improving measurement accuracy.
- What magnitude, reported precision and uncertainty are supplied for the quantity in tonnes? measurement
- How should the converted value be rounded and displayed to preserve the source's stated precision? action
Comparison and aggregation basis
Checks whether tonne quantities describe compatible masses before arithmetic.
Same unit does not establish same basis
Gross, net, wet and dry mass qualifiers affect what is counted; tonne identity alone cannot reconcile these differences or prevent duplicate counting.
- Do the quantities use compatible mass bases and identifiable material or load boundaries? boundary
- What reconciliation or overlap check is required before these tonne quantities may be compared or added? action
Qualified and neighbouring quantities Identifies where tonne terminology requires additional quantity models or contextual relationships.
Mass, force and volume boundaries
Separates the tonne from force units and volume-based quantities.
Cross-quantity conversion needs a relation
Deriving volume from mass requires density and relevant conditions; deriving gravitational force requires an applicable acceleration. Vessel tonnage must be interpreted under its own definition.
- Does a requested conversion cross from mass into volume, force or a vessel-tonnage measure? boundary
- Which density, acceleration or independently defined tonnage relationship would justify the requested calculation? measurement
Compound and equivalent reporting
Preserves additional meaning in transport and equivalence-based quantities.
Qualifiers change calculation rules
Tonne-kilometres express transport activity, tonnes of oil equivalent express energy, and tonnes of CO2 equivalent require an emissions-equivalence basis.
- Is tonne used as a bare mass unit, as part of a compound unit or within an equivalence-based reporting quantity? definition
- Which transport, energy or emissions model must supply the additional meaning before comparison or conversion is permitted? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of tonne this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Cross-cutting context
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- XCT
- Domain
- XCT.QLT
What it is Filled
The tonne (symbol t) is a non-SI unit of mass accepted for use with the SI, defined as exactly 1 000 kilograms (1 megagram).
In scope
- The tonne as a non-SI unit of mass accepted for use with the SI
- Its exact relationship to the kilogram: 1 t = 1000 kg
- The symbol t, the name tonne and the equivalent name metric ton
- Disambiguation from short tons, long tons and quantities that use tonne terminology with additional meaning
- Conversion, comparison and precision handling for mass quantities expressed in tonnes
Out of scope
- The identity, composition and condition of the material being measured
- Weighing instruments, calibration procedures and measurement workflows
- Mass, force, density and volume as independently modelled quantities
- Emissions accounting methods and carbon-dioxide-equivalent calculations
- Freight activity, vessel tonnage and energy-equivalence accounting
- Jurisdiction-specific contractual and regulatory requirements
Why it exists Filled
Enable an AI agent to recognise the tonne as a mass unit, interpret quantities expressed in it, and decide which conversions and comparisons are valid.
Distinguishing features Filled
- A tonne represents mass and equals exactly 1000 kilograms; it does not represent a force.
- The unit symbol is lowercase t; uppercase T is not an interchangeable spelling of that symbol.
- Metric ton denotes the same unit, whereas short ton and long ton denote different mass units; an unqualified ton requires contextual resolution.
- A tonne cannot be converted directly to cubic metres without information such as density and relevant material conditions.
- Tonne-kilometre, tonne of oil equivalent and tonne of CO2 equivalent carry meanings beyond the bare mass unit and cannot be treated as interchangeable quantities.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Mix tonnes with short or long tons without saying so in loads, cargo or emissions figures.
- Round load figures in a way that hides an overload.
- Present a mass in tonnes as a weight limit when the rule uses another unit.
Only with a human decision
- Approving a load on a crane, bridge, vehicle or vessel.
May
- Convert between tonnes and other mass units exactly, stating the unit used.
- Flag where a figure may be in short or long tons rather than tonnes.
Moral aspects Filled
- Unit confusion in load and cargo figures has caused accidents and losses.
- Emissions and trade data in tonnes inform policy; misreporting misleads the public.
Who is affected
- Drivers and crane operators
- People near loads
- Traders
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns the unit; national metrology institutes maintain mass standards.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q42531917 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.tonne
- Wikidata: Q191118 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191118)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
- Quantity kind: Mass
- Exact kilogram scale: 1 t = 1000 kg exactly
- Unit-system standing: Non-SI unit accepted for use with the SI
- Recognised designation: tonne; metric ton; symbol t
- Designation resolution: Explicit tonne; contextually resolved tonne; unresolved ton designation
- Reported mass magnitude: Numerical value in t, attached to a quantity using this unit
- Mass-basis qualifier: For example: gross, net, wet, dry, unspecified
- Reporting precision: Reported increment or uncertainty in t, when supplied
Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.
Recognition not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
A tonne is an abstract unit of mass and has no intrinsic visual appearance.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Recognise explicit tonne and metric-ton designations and normalise their unit identity.
- Convert tonne quantities to kilograms using the exact scale relationship.
- Resolve or flag ambiguous ton designations before calculation.
- Compare and aggregate tonne quantities after checking their referents and reporting bases.
- Preserve supplied uncertainty and precision through conversion and presentation.
- Route compound, equivalent, force or volume quantities to the appropriate neighbouring model.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Confusing tonnes with short tons or long tons can produce incorrect load estimates and commercial quantities.
- Treating a mass in tonnes as a force can invalidate engineering calculations.
- Misreading unit prefixes or decimal notation can cause major errors in inventories and reported emissions.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- The International System of Units (SI) brochure, International Bureau of Weights and Measures, which lists the tonne among non-SI units accepted for use with the SI.
Context of use required Filled
- The tonne expresses mass in freight, agriculture, mining, manufacturing and environmental reporting.
- It supports comparison and conversion of large mass quantities using the exact equivalence of one tonne to 1000 kilograms.
Sources Filled
- Tonne - Definition as 1000 kg, BIPM symbol t, conversions to short and long tons, SI-accepted status, and derived multiples (kt, Mt, Gt).
- tonne (Q191118) - Canonical identifiers: Wikidata Q191118, UCUM t, UN/CEFACT TNE, and exact conversion 1 t = 1000 kg.
- SI Units - Mass - US NIST treatment of the metric ton as 1000 kg / 1 megagram, and kilogram as the SI mass base unit.
- Ton - Distinction of tonne from short ton, long ton, deadweight ton, assay ton, and regional naming of unqualified 'ton'.
- Tonne of oil equivalent - toe as an energy unit (IEA: 41.868 GJ), not a mass unit, despite being named from a tonne of crude.
- tonne (SI general unit definition) - CGPM 1948 / CIPM 1879 origin of the unit and SI Brochure classification as a unit used with the SI.
Open questions
- Does an existing Vercy world model already own tonne or mass-unit identity, requiring this registry entry to link to it?
- Which authoritative metrology sources and editions should substantiate the exact definition, accepted notation and SI-use status?
- Which abbreviations, prefixed forms and language variants actually occur in the target data, and which can be resolved reliably?
- What evidence threshold should permit contextual resolution of an unqualified ton in the intended workflows?
- Which neighbouring Vercy models own mass-basis reconciliation, vessel tonnage, transport activity and emissions or energy equivalence?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q191118/spec.json