Centimeter
Centimeter
The centimeter (American spelling) or centimetre (British spelling) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one hundredth of a meter. Centimeters are used worldwide, particularly in countries that have adopted the International System of Units (SI). The symbol for centimeter is cm.
History[edit | edit source]
The centimeter was derived from the meter, which was first defined in 1791 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole along the meridian through Paris. In 1960, the definition of the meter was updated by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) to be based on certain wavelength of light, and later, in 1983, it was defined in terms of the speed of light. The centimeter is not a preferred SI unit, but it is commonly used in everyday measurements, such as in personal height and clothing sizes.
Usage[edit | edit source]
Centimeters are widely used in many countries for many everyday applications. For example, they are used on rulers and measuring tapes to measure lengths in a variety of situations, from construction projects to tailoring clothes. In the sciences, centimeters are used to describe the dimensions of various objects, such as biological specimens and technological components.
Conversion[edit | edit source]
One centimeter is equivalent to:
- 10 millimeters
- 0.01 meter
- 0.3937 inches
To convert centimeters to inches, multiply the number of centimeters by 0.3937. Conversely, to convert inches to centimeters, multiply the number of inches by 2.54.
See also[edit | edit source]
| Centimeter Resources | |
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