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1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeter (mm). Centimeter (cm) is a unit of Length used in Metric system. Millimeter (mm) is a unit of Length used in Metric system.

Centimeter: A Unit of Length Used in the Metric System

The centimeter (cm) is a unit of length in the metric system, which is the most widely used system of measurement in the world. The centimeter is equal to one hundredth of a meter, which is the SI base unit of length. The centimeter is also a derived unit in the International System of Units (SI), which is the official system of measurement for science and engineering. The symbol for centimeter is cm. The centimeter is used for measuring small distances and dimensions, such as the width of a fingernail or the diameter of a coin. The centimeter is also used for measuring areas and volumes, such as the area of a sheet of paper or the volume of a water bottle. The centimeter is named after the centi prefix, which means one hundredth in Latin. In this article, we will explore the definition, history, usage and conversion of the centimeter as a unit of length.

Definition of the Centimeter

The centimeter is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a meter. It is defined as 1/100 meters. The meter is defined as the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299792458 seconds.

The definition of the centimeter has not changed since its introduction by the French Academy of Sciences in 1795, as part of the decimal metric system that was adopted after the French Revolution. However, the definition of the meter has changed several times over time, as different standards and methods of measurement were developed by various countries and organizations. The current definition of the meter as based on the speed of light was agreed upon by an international treaty in 1983.

History of the Centimeter

The origin of the centimeter as a unit of length can be traced back to 1795, when the French Academy of Sciences proposed a new system of measurement that was based on decimal fractions and natural constants. The system was called the metric system, and it was intended to replace the old and diverse systems of measurement that were used in France and other countries at that time. The metric system was designed to be simple, universal and rational.

The base unit of length in the metric system was the meter, which was defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris. The meter was divided into ten decimeters, each decimeter into ten centimeters, and each centimeter into ten millimeters. The prefixes deci, centi and milli indicated that they were one tenth, one hundredth and one thousandth of a meter respectively.

The metric system was officially adopted by France in 1799, and gradually spread to other countries over the next century. In 1875, an international treaty called the Metre Convention was signed by 17 countries to establish a common standard for measuring length and mass. The treaty also established an international organization called the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) to maintain and improve the metric system.

In 1889, a new standard for the meter was created by using a platinum-iridium bar that was kept at BIPM. This bar was called the International Prototype Metre, and it was divided into ten equal parts to make standard centimeters. The bar was also compared with other national standards to ensure accuracy and consistency.

In 1960, an international conference called the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) adopted a new system of measurement called the International System of Units (SI), which was based on seven base units that could be derived from physical constants. The meter was redefined as 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of light emitted by a krypton-86 atom in a vacuum. The centimeter remained as a derived unit in SI, but it was no longer recommended for use in scientific and technical fields.

In 1983, another CGPM conference redefined the meter again as the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299792458 seconds. This definition was based on the speed of light, which is a universal constant that can be measured with high precision. The centimeter also changed accordingly to reflect this new definition.

Usage of the Centimeter

The centimeter is a unit of length that is used for measuring small distances and dimensions, such as the width of a fingernail or the diameter of a coin. The centimeter is also used for measuring areas and volumes, such as the area of a sheet of paper or the volume of a water bottle.

The centimeter is widely used in everyday life, especially in countries that follow the metric system. Some examples are:

• Measuring clothing sizes and body measurements.
• Measuring furniture dimensions and room sizes.
• Measuring paper sizes and formats.
• Measuring screen sizes and resolutions.
• Measuring rainfall amounts and snow depths.
• Measuring map scales and distances.

The centimeter is also used in some scientific and technical fields, such as:

• Measuring wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
• Measuring lengths and diameters of microscopic objects.
• Measuring thicknesses and cross-sections of materials.
• Measuring focal lengths and apertures of lenses.
• Measuring blood pressure and blood glucose levels.



How to Convert Centimeter

The centimeter can be converted to other units of length by using conversion factors or formulas. Here are some examples of how to convert centimeters to other units of length in the SI system, the US customary system and other systems:

• To convert centimeters to millimeters, multiply by 10. For example, 10 cm = 10 × 10 = 100 mm.
• To convert centimeters to meters, divide by 100. For example, 10 cm = 10 / 100 = 0.1 m.
• To convert centimeters to kilometers, divide by 100000. For example, 10 cm = 10 / 100000 = 0.0001 km.
• To convert centimeters to inches, multiply by 0.3937. For example, 10 cm = 10 × 0.3937 = 3.937 in.
• To convert centimeters to feet, multiply by 0.0328. For example, 10 cm = 10 × 0.0328 = 0.328 ft.
• To convert centimeters to yards, multiply by 0.0109. For example, 10 cm = 10 × 0.0109 = 0.109 yd.
• To convert centimeters to miles, multiply by 0.0000062137. For example, 10 cm = 10 × 0.0000062137 = 0.000062137 mi.
• To convert centimeters to nanometers, multiply by 10000000. For example, one cm = one × 10000000 = 10000000 nm.
• To convert centimeters to micrometers, multiply by 10000. For example, one cm = one × 10000 = 10000 µm.

Millimeter: A Unit of Length

Definition of the millimeter

A millimeter is a unit of length in the metric system, which is based on the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as one thousandth of a meter, which is the SI base unit of length. One millimeter can be written as 1 mm or 0.001 m.

How to convert millimeter to other units of length

To convert millimeter to other units of length, we need to use conversion factors that relate the millimeter to the desired unit. For example, to convert millimeter to centimeter, we need to know that 1 cm = 10 mm, so we can divide the number of millimeters by 10 to get the number of centimeters. Similarly, to convert millimeter to inch, we need to know that 1 in = 25.4 mm, so we can divide the number of millimeters by 25.4 to get the number of inches.

Here are some common conversion factors for millimeter and other units of length in the US standard system and the SI system:

• 1 mm = 0.1 cm
• 1 mm = 0.03937 in
• 1 mm = 0.001 m
• 1 mm = 0.000001 km
• 1 mm = 0.00000062137 mi
• 1 mm = 0.00000053996 nmi

Where millimeter is used

The millimeter is a widely used unit of length in many fields and applications around the world. Some examples are:

• In engineering and manufacturing, the millimeter is often used to measure small dimensions and tolerances of parts and products.
• In medicine and biology, the millimeter is often used to measure the size and growth of cells, tissues, organs, and microorganisms.
• In astronomy and physics, the millimeter is often used to measure the wavelength and frequency of electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves and microwaves.
• In geography and cartography, the millimeter is often used to measure the scale and distance on maps and globes.
• In art and design, the millimeter is often used to measure the thickness and width of lines, shapes, and fonts.

History of millimeter

The millimeter has a long and varied history in different countries and cultures. Some historical facts are:

• The first recorded use of the millimeter as a unit of length was in France in the late 18th century, during the French Revolution. The French Academy of Sciences adopted the metric system as a standard for measurement and defined the meter as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the pole.
• The millimeter was officially recognized as a part of the SI system in 1960, when the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) adopted a new definition of the meter based on the wavelength of light emitted by a krypton-86 atom.
• The millimeter is still widely used today in many countries that have adopted the metric system, such as most of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. However, some countries still use other units of length alongside or instead of the millimeter, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Example conversions of millimeter to other units

Here are some examples of how to convert millimeter to other units of length using the conversion factors given above:

• To convert 5 mm to cm, we divide by 10: 5 mm / 10 = 0.5 cm
• To convert 12 mm to in, we divide by 25.4: 12 mm / 25.4 = 0.47244 in
• To convert 100 mm to m, we divide by 1000: 100 mm / 1000 = 0.1 m
• To convert 250 mm to km, we divide by 1000000: 250 mm / 1000000 = 0.00025 km
• To convert 500 mm to mi, we divide by 1609344: 500 mm / 1609344 = 0.00031069 mi
• To convert 1000 mm to nmi, we divide by 1852000: 1000 mm / 1852000 = 0.00053996 nmi