Centimeter: Definitions and Examples

Centimeter: Definitions, Formulas, & Examples

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    Centimeter: A Unit of Length Measurement

    Centimeter is a unit of length that is commonly used in the metric system, which is a decimal system of measurement that is widely used across the world. The history of the centimeter can be traced back to 1791, when the French Academy of Sciences introduced the metric system. The word “centimeter” is derived from the Latin word “centum,” meaning hundred, and “metrum,” meaning measure.

    Initially, the metric system defined the meter as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along the meridian passing through Paris, France. However, this definition was later revised to a more precise definition based on the wavelength of light from a particular element. This revised definition of the meter was adopted in 1960 by the International System of Units (SI).

    In 1795, the French government officially adopted the metric system, and it quickly spread to other countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. By the late 19th century, the metric system was widely used throughout Europe and was gradually adopted in other countries around the world, including the United States, Japan, and Canada.

    The centimeter is one of the most commonly used units of length in the metric system. It is particularly useful for measuring small distances, such as the length of an object or the distance between two points. The centimeter is defined as one hundredth of a meter, making it a convenient unit for measuring lengths that are not too large or too small.

    In addition to its use in everyday life, the centimeter is also widely used in scientific and technical fields, including engineering, physics, and medicine. For example, it is used to measure the length of electrical wiring, the diameter of pipes, and the height of buildings. It is also used to measure the size of objects in medical imaging, such as CT scans and X-rays.

    Definitions

    Metric System: The metric system is a system of units of measurement that is based on multiples of ten. It is used in many countries around the world and is the most widely used system of units of measurement.

    Centimeter: A centimeter is a unit of length measurement that is equal to one hundredth of a meter.

    Examples of Centimeter Use

    1. Measuring Length: Centimeters are commonly used to measure the length of objects, such as the length of a piece of cloth, the height of a person, or the width of a piece of paper.
    2. Clothing Sizes: Clothing sizes are often given in centimeters, especially in Europe and other countries that use the metric system. For example, a shirt might be labeled as having a waist measurement of 80 cm.
    3. Cooking: Centimeters are used in cooking to measure ingredients, such as the length of a carrot or the thickness of a slice of bread.
    4. Construction: In construction, centimeters are used to measure the length of building materials, such as the length of a piece of lumber or the width of a door.
    5. Science: In science, centimeters are used to measure the length of objects or distances, such as the length of a cell or the distance between stars.

    10 Question Quiz on Centimeters

    1. What is the definition of a centimeter? A: A centimeter is a unit of length measurement that is equal to one hundredth of a meter.
    2. What system of units of measurement is the centimeter part of? A: The centimeter is part of the metric system.
    3. Can centimeters be used to measure the length of objects? A: Yes, centimeters can be used to measure the length of objects.
    4. Are centimeters commonly used to measure clothing sizes? A: Yes, centimeters are commonly used to measure clothing sizes, especially in Europe and other countries that use the metric system.
    5. Can centimeters be used in cooking to measure ingredients? A: Yes, centimeters can be used in cooking to measure ingredients, such as the length of a carrot or the thickness of a slice of bread.
    6. Are centimeters used in construction to measure building materials? A: Yes, centimeters are used in construction to measure the length of building materials, such as the length of a piece of lumber or the width of a door.
    7. Are centimeters used in science to measure distances? A: Yes, centimeters are used in science to measure distances, such as the distance between stars.
    8. Is the centimeter the most widely used unit of measurement in the world? A: No, the centimeter is not the most widely used unit of measurement in the world, but it is part of the metric system, which is the most widely used system of units of measurement.
    9. Can centimeters be used to measure height? A: Yes, centimeters can be used to measure height, such as the height of a person or the height of a building.
    10. Are centimeters commonly used in everyday life? A: Yes, centimeters are commonly used in everyday life, as well as in science, engineering, and other areas.

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    Centimeter:

    Conversions to other units

    1 cm | 10 mm (millimeters) | 0.1 dm (decimeters) | 0.01 meters | 0.3937 inches

    Conversions from other units

    1 mm | 0.1 cm 1 dm | 10 cm 1 m | 100 cm 1 in | 2.54 cm

    Physical quantities

    length

    distance

    width

    height

    thickness

    depth

    radius

    diameter

    wavelength

    perimeter

    characteristic length

    circumference

    position

    breadth

    arc length

    displacement

    radial distance

    semi-principal axis length

    atomic radius

    angular wavelength

    mean free path

    Cartesian coordinate

    displacement vector

    Unit systems

    Système International d'Unités (SI) | centimeter-gram-second (CGS)

    Corresponding quantities for 1 cm

    Light travel time t in vacuum from t = x/c: | 33 ps (picoseconds)

    Light travel time t in an optical fiber t = 1.48x/c: | 49 ps (picoseconds)

    Point size from 72 points = 1 inch: | 28 pt (desktop publishing points)

    Angular wavelength ƛ from ƛ = λ/(2π): | 0.001592 meters

    Frequency ν of electromagnetic radiation in a vacuum from ν = c/λ: | 30 GHz (gigahertz)

    Frequency ν of sound from ν = v/λ: | 34 kHz (kilohertz) | (assuming speed of sound ≈ 340 m/s)

    Spectroscopic wavenumber ν^~ from ν^~ = 1/λ: | 1 cm^(-1) (reciprocal centimeter) | 1 wavenumber

    Wavenumber k from k = 2π/λ: | 6.283 cm^(-1) (reciprocal centimeters)

    Corrresponding angle θ around the earth's equator from θ = s/a_ earth : | 1.6 nrad (nanoradians) | 8.983×10^-8° (degrees)

    Wavelength λ from λ = 2πƛ: | 0.06283 meters

    Frequency ν of a photon in a vacuum from ν = 2πc/ƛ: | 188.4 GHz (gigahertz)

    Spectroscopic wavenumber ν^~ from ν^~ = 2π/ƛ: | 628.3 m^(-1) (reciprocal meters)

    Wavenumber k from k = 1/ƛ: | 100 m^(-1) (reciprocal meters)

    Comparisons for 1 cm as length

    ≈ ( 0.22 ≈ 1/4 ) × rack unit ( 1.75 in )

    ≈ 0.83 × length of a typical coffee bean ( ≈ 12 mm )

    ≈ length of a typical rice grain ( ≈ 8 mm )

    Comparisons for 1 cm as distance

    ≈ 2.7 × total key travel distance on a computer keyboard ( 3.3 to 4.3 mm )

    ≈ 4.5 × displacement prior to breakaway force that acknowledges key registration on a computer keyboard ( 2 to 2.5 mm )

    Comparison for 1 cm as height

    ≈ height of a standard Lego brick ( 9.6 mm )

    Comparison for 1 cm as depth

    = depth of a standard CD jewel case ( 10 mm )

    Comparisons for 1 cm as radius

    ≈ radius of a US penny coin ( 0.375 in )

    ≈ (0.8 to 1.7) × inner radius of a ring ( 0.1592 inner circumferences of a ring )

    ≈ 1.1 × Schwarzschild radius of Earth ( 0.0088700559 m )

    Comparison for 1 cm as diameter

    ≈ (0.4 to 0.8) × typical inner diameter of a ring ( 0.3183 inner circumferences of a ring )

    Comparisons for 1 cm as wavelength

    ≈ (5×10^-4 to 0.6) × wavelength of an audible sound to a human ( 5×10^-5 to 0.05 speed of sound/Hz )

    ≈ minimal wavelength of the SHF band ( ≈ 10 mm )

    ≈ 10 × wavelength limit of radio waves ( ≈ 0.001 m )

    Comparison for 1 cm as caliper

    ≈ 100 × thickness of typical copy paper ( ≈ 0.004 in )

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