Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Included in the law was a table of conversion factors between the customary (i.e. English-derived) and metric units, among them a definition of the meter in terms of the yard, and the kilogram in terms of the pound.
The quarter of a yard (9 inches) was known as the "quarter" without further qualification, while the sixteenth of a yard (2.25 inches) was called a nail. [62] The eighth of a yard (4.5 inches) was sometimes called a finger, [63] but was more commonly referred to simply as an eighth of a yard, while the half-yard (18 inches) was called "half a ...
The United States adopted the conversion factor 1 metre = 39.37 inches by an act in 1866. [30] In 1893, Mendenhall ordered the physical realization of the inch to be based on the international prototype metres numbers 21 and 27, which had been received from the CGPM, together with the previously adopted conversion factor. [31]
The factor–label method can convert only unit quantities for which the units are in a linear relationship intersecting at 0 (ratio scale in Stevens's typology). Most conversions fit this paradigm. An example for which it cannot be used is the conversion between the Celsius scale and the Kelvin scale (or the Fahrenheit scale). Between degrees ...
In both customary and imperial units, one foot comprises 12 inches, and one yard comprises three feet. Since an international agreement in 1959, the foot is defined as equal to exactly 0.3048 meters. Historically, the "foot" was a part of many local systems of units, including the Greek, Roman, Chinese, French, and English systems. It varied in ...
Consequently, while many U.S. units are essentially similar to their imperial counterparts, there are noticeable differences between the systems. The majority of U.S. customary units were redefined in terms of the meter and kilogram with the Mendenhall Order of 1893 and, in practice, for many years before. [3]
For example, to compare 32 metres with 35 yards, use 1 yard = 0.9144 m to convert 35 yards to 32.004 m. A related principle is that any physical law that accurately describes the real world must be independent of the units used to measure the physical variables. [ 7 ]
Comparison of 1 square yard with some Imperial and metric units of area. The square yard (Northern India: gaj, Pakistan: gaz) is an imperial unit and U.S. customary unit of area.