Centimetre

Centimetre (cm) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. The centimetre is part of the International System of Units and is symbolized as "cm". It is widely used in everyday measurements, scientific applications, and many fields of engineering and industry.

Definition

A centimetre is defined as 1/100th of a metre. The metre is defined based on the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds. This definition makes the centimetre a derived unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), directly linked to the fundamental SI unit of length, the metre.

Usage

The centimetre is commonly used for many everyday measurements. It is a popular unit of measure in countries that have adopted the metric system for its simplicity and ease of use in calculations involving fractions of a metre. It is particularly used in contexts where fine measurements are required, such as in engineering drawings, the construction industry, tailoring, and the measurement of precipitation in meteorology.

In the field of medicine, the centimetre is used to specify the size of objects or distances that are too small to be conveniently expressed in metres, such as the dimensions of a tumor or the height of a newborn.

Conversion

To convert centimetres to metres, divide the number of centimetres by 100. Conversely, to convert metres to centimetres, multiply the number of metres by 100.

• 1 cm = 0.01 m
• 1 m = 100 cm

Centimetres can also be converted to and from other units of length in the metric system, such as millimetres (mm) and kilometres (km), by applying the appropriate conversion factors.

• 1 cm = 10 mm
• 1 km = 100,000 cm

Historical Context

The centimetre was part of the original metric system adopted in France in 1795. It was intended to simplify and standardize measurements by creating a decimal-based system of units. The centimetre has since become a fundamental unit of length in the metric system, used worldwide in both everyday life and scientific contexts.

See Also

• Metre
• Millimetre
• Kilometre
• International System of Units
• Metric system