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:
| Abbreviation | Full form | Equivalent |
| mm | millimetre | 10mm = 1cm 1000mm = 1m |
| cm | centimetre | 100cm = 1m |
| m | metre | 1000m = 1km |
| km | kilometre | 1000m = 1km |
Related Physics Articles:
| Accuracy And Precision – The Art Of Measurement |
| Measurement of Mass: Mass and Weight |
| Conventional Methods Of Measurements |
| Dimensional Analysis |
Watch the video and find out how the distance between the earth and the sun is measured?
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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What is meant by distance?
What is the formula to find the distance?
The distance is given by the formula: d=s*t.
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