Decimeters to Meters Converter (dm to m)
All Conversions

Length Conversion
Area Conversion
Volume Conversion
Volume to Weight
Weight Conversion
Weight to Volume
Speed Conversion

Decimeters to Meters
Converter





  

Select conversion type:


Rounding options:




Convert Meters to Decimeters (m to dm) ▶

Conversion Table

decimeters to meters
dmm
1 dm 0.1 m
2 dm 0.2 m
3 dm 0.3 m
4 dm 0.4 m
5 dm 0.5 m
6 dm 0.6 m
7 dm 0.7 m
8 dm 0.8 m
9 dm 0.9 m
10 dm 1 m
11 dm 1.1 m
12 dm 1.2 m
13 dm 1.3 m
14 dm 1.4 m
15 dm 1.5 m
16 dm 1.6 m
17 dm 1.7 m
18 dm 1.8 m
19 dm 1.9 m
20 dm 2 m

How to convert

1 decimeter (dm) = 0.1 meter (m). Decimeter (dm) is a unit of Length used in Metric system. Meter (m) is a unit of Length used in Metric system.

Decimeter: A Unit of Length Used in the Metric System

The decimeter (dm) is a unit of length in the metric system, which is the most widely used system of measurement in the world. The decimeter is equal to one tenth of a meter, which is the SI base unit of length. The decimeter 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 decimeter is dm. The decimeter is used for measuring medium distances and dimensions, such as the height of a bookshelf or the width of a door. The decimeter is also used for measuring volumes, such as the volume of a cube or a box. The decimeter is named after the deci prefix, which means one tenth in Latin. In this article, we will explore the definition, history, usage and conversion of the decimeter as a unit of length.

Definition of Decimeter

The decimeter is a unit of length that is equal to one tenth of a meter. It is defined as 1/10 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 decimeter 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 Decimeter

The origin of the decimeter 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 decimeters. 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 decimeter 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 decimeter also changed accordingly to reflect this new definition.

Usage of Decimeter

The decimeter is a unit of length that is used for measuring medium distances and dimensions, such as the height of a bookshelf or the width of a door. The decimeter is also used for measuring volumes, such as the volume of a cube or a box.

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

  • Measuring the dimensions of furniture and appliances.
  • Measuring the size of books and magazines.
  • Measuring the capacity of containers and bottles.
  • Measuring the depth of water and soil.
  • Measuring the distance between objects and landmarks.

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

  • Measuring the diameter and circumference of circles and cylinders.
  • Measuring the volume and surface area of solids and liquids.
  • Measuring the density and specific gravity of substances.
  • Measuring the pressure and temperature of gases and fluids.
  • Measuring the focal length and magnification of lenses and mirrors.

How to Convert Decimeter

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

  • To convert decimeters to centimeters, multiply by 10. For example, 10 dm = 10 × 10 = 100 cm.
  • To convert decimeters to meters, divide by 10. For example, 10 dm = 10 / 10 = 1 m.
  • To convert decimeters to kilometers, divide by 10000. For example, 10 dm = 10 / 10000 = 0.001 km.
  • To convert decimeters to inches, multiply by 3.937. For example, 10 dm = 10 × 3.937 = 39.37 in.
  • To convert decimeters to feet, multiply by 0.328. For example, 10 dm = 10 × 0.328 = 3.28 ft.
Decimeters also can be marked as decimetres.

Meter - Unit of Distance / Length

Unit Symbol / Abbreviation: m

Where the unit used in the World:

The meter is used as a unit to measure medium distances or lengths.
It's a standard measure for short distances (up to 1 km long), in real estate and construction, supply materials, vehicle and aircraft dimensions, short geographical distances and directions in most countries excluding the USA where foot and yard are still widely used for this purpose.
The meter is widely used in most countries and is the official unit for medium lengths and distances (for example, road signs in continental Europe show maximum vehicle hight in meters). Primary exceptions are the United States of America, and some countries where feet and yards are used in limited extent: the United Kingdom and Canada, where the yard remains in limited use as a part of imperial system (for example, yards are used on road signs for shorter distances in the United Kingdom and feet are widely used in construction and real estate in Canada).

Definition of the Unit:

The meter (metre in UK spelling) is a unit of length/distance in the metric system (SI Unit system) equivalent to the length of the path travelled by light during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second (in vacuum, defined since 1983).

1 m is equivalent to 3.28084 ft or 0.000621371 miles.

History of the Unit:

As a result of the French Revolution in 1789, the old units of measure that were associated with the monarchy were replaced by the new units. The new unit of length was introduced which became known as the meter. In 1795 the meter was defined as 1/10,000,000 part of the quarter of a meridian, passing through Paris. The meter gained popularity in continental Europe during the nineteenth century, particularly in scientific field, and was officially adopted as an international measurement unit in 1875. In 1960 the meter was defined as 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of light from a specified transition in krypton-86. In 1983 the final definition of meter was accepted as length of the path travelled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

Where it's used:

The meter is commonly used in different trades and industries (for examle in machinery manufacturing), on road signs to indicate vehicle hight limits, the distance to short travel to a given location (for example in automotive GPS navigation voice prompts), on maps to indicate small scale, for vehicle, vessels and aircragt dimensions in industry and trade. It is also the most popular unit for describing the retail estate distances and measurements (room sizes, floor measurements and so on).

Equivalents in other units and scales:

  • 1 m = 1000 millimeters (mm)
  • 1 m = 100 centimeters (cm)
  • 1 m = 10 decimeters (dm)
  • 1 m = 0.001 kilometers (km)
  • 1 m = 3.28084 feet (ft)
  • 1 megameter = 1000000 m
  • 1 gigameter = 1000000000 m
  • Units of length in the metric SI system are based on multiples or fractions of a meter.
  • There are measurements of length/distance in the metric SI system greater than a meter that can be expressed in terms of metres.

1 m is equivalent to 3.28084 ft or 1.09361 yd.

The meter is a unit of length in the metric SI system and is equivalent to the length of the path travelled by light during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second (in vacuum, defined since 1983).

Meters also can be marked as metres (in British English spelling).



Español     Russian     Français
Related converters:

Decimeters to Centimeters
Decimeters to Feet
Decimeters to Inches
Decimeters to Meters
Decimeters to Millimeters
Decimeters to Yards
Meters to Centimeters
Meters to Decimeters
Meters to Feet
Meters to Inches
Meters to Kilometers
Meters to Miles
Meters to Millimeters
Meters to Yards
Centimeters to Inches
Feet to Inches
Feet to Kilometers
Feet to Meters
Feet to Yards
Inches to Centimeters
Inches to Feet
Inches to Meters
Inches to Millimeters
Kilometers to Miles
Meters to Feet
Meters to Inches
Meters to Yards
Miles to Kilometers
Millimeters to Inches
Yards to Feet
Yards to Inches
Yards to Meters

Report an error on this page


About Us     Contact     Terms of Service
Privacy Policy     Español     Russian     Français
Copyright © 2013-2024 Metric-Calculator.com