Metric System of Measurements
Length Area
10 millimeters = 1 centimeter 100 sq. mm = 1 sq. cm
10 centimeters = 1 decimeter 10 000 sq. cm = 1 sq. meter
10 decimeters = 1 meter 100 sq. metres = 1 are
10 metres = 1 decameter 100 ares = 1 hectare
10 decameters = 1 hectometer 10 000 sq. metres = 1 hectare
10 hectometers = 1 kilometer 100 hectares = 1 sq. kilometer
1000 metres = 1 kilometer 1 000 000 sq. metres = 1 sq. kilometer
Capacity
10 milliliters = 1 centiliter
Volume 10 centiliter = 1 deciliter
1000 cu. mm = 1 cu. cm 10 deciliters = 1 litter
1 000 000 cu. cm = 1 cu. meter 1000 liter's = 1 cu. meter
Mass
1000 grams = 1 kilogram
1000 kilograms = 1 tonne
USA System of Measurements
Most of the US system of measurements is the same as that for the UK. The biggest
differences to be noted are in Capacity which has both liquid and dry measures as well as
being based on a different standard - the US liquid gallon is smaller than the UK gallon.
There is also a measurement known at the US survey foot. It is gradually being phased out
as the maps and land plans are re-drawn under metrication. (The changeover is being made
by putting 39.37 US survey feet = 12 metres)
Length Area
12 inches = 1 foot 144 sq. inches = 1 square foot
3 feet = 1 yard 9 sq. feet = 1 square yard
220 yards = 1 furlong 4840 sq. yards = 1 acre
8 furlongs = 1 mile 640 acres = 1 square mile
5280 feet = 1 mile 1 sq.mile = 1 section
1760 yards = 1 mile 36 sections = 1 township
Volume
1728 cu. inches = 1 cubic foot
27 cu. feet = 1 cubic yard
Capacity (Dry) Capacity (Liquid)
16 fluid ounces = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart 4 gills = 1 pint
8 quarts = 1 peck 2 pints = 1 quart
4 pecks = 1 bushel 4 quarts = 1 gallon (8 pints)
Mass
437.5 grains = 1 ounce Troy Weights
16 ounces = 1 pound (7000 grains) 24 grains = 1 pennyweight
14 pounds = 1 stone 20 pennyweights = 1 ounce (480 grains)
100 pounds = 1 hundredweight [cwt] 12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains)
20 cwt = 1 ton (2000 pounds)
Apothecaries' Measures Apothecaries' Weights
60 minims = 1 fl.dram 20 grains = 1 scruple
8 fl.drams = 1 fl.ounce 3 scruples = 1 dram
16 fl.ounces = 1 pint 8 drams = 1 ounce (480 grains)
12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains)
As with the UK system these measures were originally defined by physical standard
measures - the yard, the pound, the gallon and the bushel.They are now all defined by
reference to the S I measures of the meter, the kilogram and the litter. These equivalent
measures are exact.
1 yard = 0.9144 metres - same as UK
1 pound = 0.453 592 37 kilograms - same as UK
1 gallon (liquid) = 3.785 411 784 liter's
1 bushel (dry) = 35.239 070 166 88 liter's
Note particularly that the US gallon is a different size to the UK gallon so that NO
liquid measures of the same name are the same size in the US and UK systems.
Also that the ton(US) is 2000 pounds while a ton(UK) is 2240 pounds. These are also
referred to as a short ton and long ton respectively.
Length Area
12 inches = 1 foot 144 sq. inches = 1 square foot
3 feet = 1 yard 9 sq. feet = 1 square yard
22 yards = 1 chain 4840 sq. yards = 1 acre
10 chains = 1 furlong 640 acres = 1 square mile
8 furlongs = 1 mile
5280 feet = 1 mile
1760 yards = 1 mile Capacity
20 fluid ounces = 1 pint
Volume 4 gills = 1 pint
1728 cu. inches = 1 cubic foot 2 pints = 1 quart
27 cu. feet = 1 cubic yard 4 quarts = 1 gallon (8 pints)
Mass
437.5 grains = 1 ounce Troy Weights
16 ounces = 1 pound (7000 grains) 24 grains = 1 pennyweight
14 pounds = 1 stone 20 pennyweights = 1 ounce (480 grains)
8 stones = 1 hundredweight [cwt] 12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains)
20 cwt = 1 ton (2240 pounds)
Apothecaries' Measures Apothecaries' Weights
20 minims = 1 fl.scruple 20 grains = 1 scruple
3 fl.scruples = 1 fl.drachma 3 scruples = 1 drachma
8 fl.drachmas = 1 fl.ounce 8 drachmas = 1 ounce (480 grains)
20 fl.ounces = 1 pint 12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains)
The old Imperial (now UK) system was originally defined by three standard measures -
the yard, the pound and the gallon which were held in London. They are now defined by
reference to the S I measures of the meter, the kilogram and the litter. These equivalent
measures are exact.
1 yard = 0.9144 metres - same as US
1 pound = 0.453 592 37 kilograms - same as US
1 gallon = 4.546 09 liter's
Note particularly that the UK gallon is a different size to the US gallon so that NO
liquid measures of the same name are the same size in the UK and US systems.
Also that the ton(UK) is 2240 pounds while a ton(US) is 2000 pounds. These are also
referred to as a long ton and short ton respectively.
There have been three major Weights and Measures Acts in recent times (1963, 1976 and
1985) all gradually abolishing various units, as well re-defining the standards. All the
Apothecaries' measures are gone, and of the Troy measures, only the ounce remains.
Currently legislation has decreed that -
From the 1st October 1995, for economic, public health, public safety and
administrative purposes, only metric units are allowed EXCEPT that -
- pounds and ounces for weighing of goods sold from bulk
- pints and fluid ounces for beer, cider, waters, lemonades and fruit juices in RETURNABLE
containers
- therms for gas supply
- fathoms for marine navigation
may be used until 31st December 1999.
The following may continue to be used WITHOUT time limit -
- miles, yards, feet and inches for road traffic signs and related measurements of speed
and distance
- pints for dispensing draught beer and cider, and for milk in RETURNABLE containers
- acres for land registration purposes
- troy ounces for transactions in precious metals.
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