Nautical Miles to Centimeters
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1 nautical mile (nmi) = 185200 centimeter (cm). Nautical Mile (nmi) is a unit of Length used in Standard system. Centimeter (cm) is a unit of Length used in Metric system.

Nautical Mile: A Unit of Length

A nautical mile is a unit of length that is used in air, marine, and space navigation, and for the definition of territorial waters. It is based on the Earth’s longitude and latitude coordinates, and is equal to one minute of arc along a meridian. In this article, we will explore the definition, history, uses, and conversions of the nautical mile.

Definition of the Nautical Mile

The nautical mile is defined as exactly 1,852 metres (6,076 feet; 1.151 miles) by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) since 1929. This definition is based on the length of one minute of arc along a great circle of a sphere having the same surface area as the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid, which approximates the shape of the Earth.

The nautical mile is not an SI unit, but it is accepted for use with the SI by the International Committee for Weights and Measures. The derived unit of speed is the knot, which is one nautical mile per hour.

History of the Nautical Mile

The concept of the nautical mile dates back to ancient times, when navigators used the stars and angles to measure distances at sea. The word mile comes from the Latin phrase mille passus, meaning a thousand paces.

The nautical mile was originally defined as the length on the Earth’s surface of one minute of arc along a meridian (north-south line of longitude). However, this definition varied depending on the latitude and the shape of the Earth assumed by different countries. For example, France defined a nautical mile as one ten-millionth of a quarter meridian using the original 1791 definition of the metre.The United States and the United Kingdom used an average arcminute based on the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid.

In order to standardize the nautical mile, the IHO adopted the current definition in 1929, which was later endorsed by other international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The United States adopted the international nautical mile in 1954 and the United Kingdom in 1970.

Where Nautical Mile is Used

The nautical mile is widely used in navigation, especially for maritime and aviation purposes. It is convenient to use because it corresponds to one minute of latitude, which can be easily measured with a sextant or a GPS device. It also allows for simple calculations of distances along great circles, which are the shortest routes between two points on a sphere.

Some examples of where nautical mile is used are:

• The definition of territorial waters, which are usually 12 nautical miles from a country’s coastline.
• The measurement of flight levels and air routes for aircrafts.
• The determination of speed limits and fuel consumption for ships and boats.
• The designation of marine protected areas and fishing zones.
• The mapping of ocean currents and wind patterns.

How to Convert Nautical Mile

The nautical mile can be converted to other units of length using simple multiplication or division by a conversion factor. Here are some common conversion factors:

For example, to convert 10 nautical miles to kilometres, we multiply by 1.852:

10 NM × 1.852 = 18.52 km

To convert 50 kilometres to nautical miles, we divide by 1.852:

50 km ÷ 1.852 = 27 NM

Example Conversions of Nautical Mile to Other Units

Here are some example conversions of nautical mile to other units:

• 1 NM = 1,852 m
• 1 NM = 6,076 ft
• 1 NM = 1.151 mi
• 1 NM = 0.54 leagues
• 1 NM = 10 cables
• 1 NM = 800 fathoms
• 1 NM = 2,025 yd

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.