Microns to Chains
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1 micron (µ) = 4.97097E-08 chain (ch). Micron (µ) is a unit of Length used in Metric system. Chain (ch) is a unit of Length used in Standard system.

Micron: A Unit of Length

A micron is a unit of length that is equal to one millionth of a meter. It is also known as a micrometer or a micrometre. The symbol for micron is µm.

How to Convert Micron

To convert micron to other units of length, we need to use some conversion factors. Here are some common conversion factors for US Standard system and SI system:

• 1 inch = 25,400 µm
• 1 foot = 304,800 µm
• 1 mile = 1,609,344,000 µm
• 1 centimeter = 10,000 µm
• 1 meter = 1,000,000 µm
• 1 kilometer = 1,000,000,000 µm

Using these conversion factors, we can multiply or divide the number of microns by the appropriate factor to get the equivalent length in another unit. For example:

• To convert 50 µm to inches, we divide 50 by 25,400 and get 0.00197 inches.
• To convert 3 feet to microns, we multiply 3 by 304,800 and get 914,400 µm.

Where Micron is Used

The micron is used in various fields and applications that require measuring very small distances or sizes. Some examples are:

• In biology and medicine, the micron is used to measure the size of cells, bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms.
• In engineering and manufacturing, the micron is used to measure the thickness of films, coatings, wires, fibers, and other materials.
• In astronomy and optics, the micron is used to measure the wavelength of infrared light and the resolution of telescopes and cameras.
• In geology and mineralogy, the micron is used to measure the grain size of rocks and minerals.
• In chemistry and physics, the micron is used to measure the diameter of atoms and molecules.

The use of micron varies by country and region. For example:

• In the United States and Canada, the micron is commonly used in engineering and manufacturing industries.
• In Europe and Asia, the micron is widely used in science and technology fields.
• In Australia and New Zealand, the micron is often used in agriculture and forestry sectors.

Definition of the Micron

The micron is defined as one millionth of a meter. A meter is the base unit of length in the SI system. The SI system is an international system of units that is based on seven fundamental quantities: length, mass, time, electric current, temperature, luminous intensity, and amount of substance.

The meter was originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian. However, this definition was not very precise and practical. Therefore, over time, the definition of the meter has changed several times based on different physical constants and standards. The current definition of the meter was adopted in 1983 by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM). It states that:

The meter is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299792458 second.

Using this definition, we can derive that one micron is equal to:

1 µm = (1/299792458) / (1000000) second * (299792458 m / second)

= (1/1000000) m

= 0.000001 m

History of Micron

The micron was first introduced in the late 18th century by French scientists who were developing a decimal system of units. They proposed a unit called micrometre that was equal to one millionth of a meter. However, this unit was not widely accepted or used at that time.

In the early 19th century, British scientists adopted a similar unit called microinch that was equal to one millionth of an inch. This unit was more popular among English-speaking countries and regions.

In the late 19th century, German scientists proposed a new unit called mikrometer that was also equal to one millionth of a meter. This unit was more consistent with the metric system and became more widely used in Europe and Asia.

In the early 20th century, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) recommended using the term micrometer instead of micron or mikrometer to avoid confusion with other units. However, many people still preferred using micron as a shorter and simpler name.

In 1960, the CGPM adopted the SI system as the official system of units for science and technology. The SI system used the term micrometer as the official name for the unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter. The symbol for micrometer was also standardized as µm.

However, the term micron and its symbol µ were still widely used in many fields and applications. Therefore, in 1975, the CGPM decided to allow the use of micron and µ as alternative names and symbols for micrometer and µm. However, they also stated that these alternatives should be avoided in official documents and publications.

Example Conversions of Micron to Other Units

Here are some examples of converting micron to other units of length:

• 1 µm = 0.000001 m
• 1 µm = 0.001 mm
• 1 µm = 0.00003937 inch
• 1 µm = 0.000003281 foot
• 1 µm = 0.000000001 km
• 1 µm = 0.0000006214 mile
• 1 µm = 1000 nm

Chain: A Unit of Length Used for Measuring Land

The chain is a unit of length that is equal to 66 feet or 22 yards or 4 rods or 100 links. It is part of the US customary and imperial measurement systems. It is used for measuring land, especially in surveying and mapping. The symbol for chain is ch. There are 10 chains in a furlong, and 80 chains in one statute mile. An acre is the area of 10 square chains. The unit is named after the chain, a measuring device that was invented by Edmund Gunter, a clergyman and mathematician, in the 17th century. The chain is also sometimes called a Gunter’s chain, a surveyor’s chain or a land chain. In this article, we will explore the definition, history, usage and conversion of the chain as a unit of length.

Definition of the Unit

The chain is a unit of length that is equal to 66 feet or 22 yards or 4 rods or 100 links. It is one of the base units in the US customary and imperial measurement systems, along with the foot, the yard and the mile. The chain is also a derived unit in the International System of Units (SI), which is the most widely used system of measurement in the world. The SI base unit of length is the meter, which 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 chain has not changed since its introduction by Edmund Gunter in 1620, who based it on an earlier English unit called an acre’s breadth, which was equal to one-tenth of a furlong or one-eightieth of a mile. However, the definition of the foot, which is used to define the chain, has changed several times over time, as different standards and methods of measurement were adopted by various countries and regions. The current definition of the foot as 0.3048 meter was agreed upon by an international treaty in 1959.

History of the Unit

The origin of the chain as a unit of length can be traced back to 1620, when Edmund Gunter created a measuring device called a chain. The chain was 66 feet long and consisted of 100 metal links connected by three rings each. The links were made of thick wire with a loop at each end. The chain had brass handles at each end for holding and folding. Gunter chose this unit because it was convenient for his work on surveying and mapping land. He also named this unit after himself, as he wrote in his book: "I have taken as unit for these measurements one hundredth part [of a furlong], which I will call an Chain".

Gunter’s unit was soon adopted by other surveyors and mapmakers, who found it useful for measuring distances and areas on flat or gently sloping land. The chain was also used for laying out roads, railways and canals. The chain became part of the US customary and imperial measurement systems, which were based on earlier English units that were brought by British settlers to America. The chain was also used in some other countries influenced by British practice, such as Canada and India.

In 1785, when the United States Congress passed the Land Ordinance Act to survey and divide the public land west of the Appalachian Mountains into rectangular townships and sections, the use of the chain as a unit of measurement was mandated by law. The act also defined the chain as equal to four rods or poles or perches. The surveyors who carried out this work were known as "chain bearers" or "chain carriers", and they marked each mile along their survey lines with wooden posts called "milestones".

In 1959, when the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth countries agreed to adopt a common definition of the foot as 0.3048 meter, based on the international yard that was defined as 0.9144 meter by an international treaty in 1959, the chain became exactly equal to 20.1168 meters.

Usage of the Unit

The chain is a unit of length that is used for measuring land, especially in surveying and mapping. The chain is also used for measuring distances on roads, railways and canals. The chain is still used in some rural areas and historical contexts in the United States, Canada and some other countries that follow the US customary or imperial measurement systems.

The chain is used for various purposes, such as:

• Measuring length, width and area of land parcels and properties.
• Measuring distances and dimensions on maps and plans.
• Measuring boundaries and borders between states, counties and townships.
• Measuring road widths and lengths.
• Measuring railway track gauges and lengths.
• Measuring canal widths and depths.

How to Convert

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

• To convert chains to feet, multiply by 66. For example, 10 ch = 10 × 66 = 660 ft.
• To convert chains to yards, multiply by 22. For example, 10 ch = 10 × 22 = 220 yd.
• To convert chains to miles, divide by 80. For example, 10 ch = 10 / 80 = 0.125 mi.
• To convert chains to centimeters, multiply by 2011.68. For example, one ch = one × 2011.68 = 2011.68 cm.
• To convert chains to meters, multiply by 20.1168. For example, one ch = one × 20.1168 = 20.1168 m.
• To convert chains to kilometers, divide by 49.7097. For example, 10 ch = 10 / 49.7097 = 0.2012 km.

Equivalents in Other Units and Scales

The chain can be expressed in terms of other units of length by using equivalent values or ratios. Here are some examples of how to express chains in other units of length:

• One chain is equal to four rods or poles or perches.
• One chain is equal to one-tenth of a furlong or one-eightieth of a mile.
• One chain is equal to one-hundredth of a league or one-fortieth of a league (US).
• One chain is equal to one-hundred-millionth of an astronomical unit or one-forty-billionth of a light-year.
• One chain is equal to one-thousandth of a nautical mile or one-three-thousand-six-hundredth of a degree of latitude or longitude.