Meters to Feet

Meters

Definition:

A meter (symbol: m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds. The meter is used worldwide in various fields including science, engineering, and everyday measurements.

History/Origin:

The meter was originally defined in 1793 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris. In 1889, the definition was refined using a physical prototype made of platinum-iridium. The current definition, based on the speed of light, was adopted in 1983.

Current Use:

Meters are commonly used in many applications, from measuring the dimensions of rooms and buildings to specifying the wavelength of light in scientific research. The meter is also the standard unit of measurement in sports, such as track and field, where races are measured in meters.

Feet

Definition:

A foot (symbol: ft) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. One foot is equivalent to 0.3048 meters. It is subdivided into 12 inches.

History/Origin:

The foot has been used as a unit of measurement in many cultures throughout history. It is believed to have originated from the average length of a human foot. The modern foot was standardized in the 1950s when the United States and countries of the Commonwealth of Nations agreed upon the international yard and pound agreement, defining the foot as exactly 0.3048 meters.

Current Use:

Feet are commonly used in the United States and a few other countries for many applications, including measuring height, length, and distances in construction and real estate. It is also used in aviation to measure altitude.

Conversion Details

Conversion Formula and Factor:

To convert meters to centimeters, you multiply the number of meters by 100. The formula is: [ \text{centimeters} = \text{meters} \times 100 ]