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What is a Kilometer?
The kilometer (symbol: km) is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1,000 meters. It is commonly used to measure long distances such as road lengths, geographical distances, and travel routes.
History and Origin of the Kilometer
The kilometer derives from the metric system, combining the prefix 'kilo' meaning thousand with the base unit meter. It was officially adopted along with the SI system. Its definition has always been based on the meter, specifically 1 kilometer equals 1,000 meters.
Current Use of the Kilometer
Kilometers are widely used in transportation, mapping, geography, and engineering for measuring extended distances. Common applications include highway distance markers, vehicle speedometers, marathon race distances, and geographical measurements. It remains one of the most frequently used units for expressing large-scale distances globally.
- Developed by: International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)
- Initial Release: 1799
- Useful links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilometre https://www.bipm.org/en/measurement-units/
What is a Meter?
The meter (symbol: m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the distance traveled by light in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds. One meter equals 100 centimeters or 1000 millimeters, making it one of the most widely used units of length globally.
History and Origin of the Meter
Originally defined in 1793 as 'one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian,' the meter has evolved over time. In 1889, the international prototype meter was introduced. The definition was updated in 1960 using the wavelength of krypton-86 radiation, and since 1983, the meter has been officially defined based on the speed of light.
Current Use of the Meter
The meter is widely used in science, engineering, construction, and education across most countries as the standard unit of length. Common applications include measuring distances, heights, and depths. Derived units such as centimeters (cm) and kilometers (km) are frequently used for smaller or larger measurements, including everyday uses like human height measurement and road distance calculation.
- Developed by: International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)
- Initial Release: 1799
- Useful links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre https://www.bipm.org/en/measurement-units/