Measurements of length and distance are done in many ways. Did you know that you can use the average human body to measure? For example, the foot (literally the length measurement of an average human foot) is around 25 – 30 cm. This unit of measurement is still in use nowadays. We also use units like inches and yards which are still in use but they are not the standard units of length measurements.
What Is Distance?
Distance is defined as the product of speed and time and it can be represented as follows:
| d=s×t |
Where,
- d is the distance travelled in m
- t is the time taken to cover the distance in s
- s is the speed in m.s-1
Metric Units of Distance
Most commonly used units of measurement of length are:
- Millimetre
- Centimetre
- Metre
- Kilometre
Following is the table explaining the relationship between all these units:
Methods of Measurement
Since ancient times, people have been inquisitive about measuring the distance. They developed many ways of measuring. Let us learn some types of motion measurements.
Conventional System of Measurements
These methods predict the approximate measure of an object. One of the biggest demerits of this method is it varies from person to person. Some common units used in such kind of measurement include:
Standard System of Measurements:
This system includes standard units of measurement. These units are consistent and do not vary from person to person. This system of units now is better known as the “International System” of Units (SI unit).
Example: SI unit of distance is meter (m).
Points To Consider While Taking Measurements
- Select the right measurement device for taking any measurement. For example, you cannot measure the length of a curvy line with the help of measuring scale.
- Place the scale along the length you are measuring. Place the initial point accordingly with the value on a scale equal to 0.
- In some scales you may be unable to see the zero mark select the initial and final notations on the scale. The actual measurement is given by:
Length = Final value on the scale – Initial value on the scale - Correct position of the eye is also important. You can obtain different values for different positioning of your eye as per the scale. Make sure your eye is exactly in front of the scale reading.
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