151
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 24:
Line 24: − + − + − +
US Customary System of Units (view source)
Revision as of 20:02, September 27, 2011
, 20:02, September 27, 2011→Supplementary Units: Fathom, furlong and chain still in use
=== Supplementary Units ===
=== Supplementary Units ===
The classical English system has several other units of length that are found in Elizabethan-era literature:
The classical English system has several other units of length including these:
* The ''fathom'' is the length of a rope held between two outstretched arms. It is defined as six feet. It may be used as a unit of depth at sea, but the usual unit of depth at sea is the foot.
* The ''fathom'' is the length of a rope held between two outstretched arms. It is defined as six feet. It is used as a unit of depth at sea by British mariners, but the usual unit of depth at sea in the USA is the foot.
* The ''rod'' is the length of a queue of sixteen persons. By convention, the rod is defined as five and one-half yards, or sixteen and one-half feet. 320 rods would therefore make a mile.
* The ''rod'' is the length of a queue of sixteen persons. By convention, the rod is defined as five and one-half yards, or sixteen and one-half feet. 320 rods would therefore make a mile. The rod is rarely if ever used as a measure nowadays.
* The ''furlong'' is one-eighth of a mile, or 40 rods. It is close in length to the Roman stadium, which was one-eighth of a Roman mile.
* The ''furlong'' is one-eighth of a mile, or 40 rods. It is close in length to the Roman stadium, which was one-eighth of a Roman mile.
* The ''chain'', one-eightieth of a mile or 66 feet. It is used in land measure and on the railways. Importantly, the distance between the sets of stumps on a [[cricket]] pitch is 1 chain.
* The ''chain'', one-eightieth of a mile or 66 feet. It is used in land measure and on the railways. Importantly, the distance between the sets of stumps on a [[cricket]] pitch is 1 chain.