In the world everything is subject to numbers. They make it easier for man to exist, help create the latest technical innovations. Thanks to them, life does not stand still. People spent a long time trying to subdue numbers, creating standard measures of length, weight. And the foot also has its own long and interesting history.
What is foot
This is the unit of measure used to determine length in English-speaking countries. Already in the XVI century there was a foot geometric. When this term was introduced into use, it was equated to 64 barley kernels folded in width. Another value of this measure was connected with agriculture - the stick of a plowman, which in those days was irreplaceable. Usually it was from 12 to 16 feet.
This term was used in the old days and in Russia, for the first time it was introduced into the lexicon during the reign of Peter I. It equaled 12 inches.
In that epoch, when active development of Russian shipbuilding was just beginning, it became necessary to solve the problem associated with the Russian measure and the English one. All discrepancies were successfully resolved: the arshin recognized at the time was 28 inches, and sazhen — 7 feet.
In Russia, they adhered to the decimal system of measurements, but it was more convenient for the British to use the number 12, since their navigators were engaged in trade, sailing around the world.
And based on the number "12", it was much more convenient for them to conduct financial and trading operations, to conclude transactions. When bringing goods to Russia, or purchasing it there, sales representatives used local length measures.
Foote serves Russian aviation
This is a non-system unit, that is, it does not exist in the International System of Units (SI). However, in the Russian Federation it is actively used, primarily for the definition of aviation navigation, in order to:
- determine the flight altitude of the aircraft;
- find out the speed of its rise;
- calculate the reduction.
In 2009, a government decree issued that the word foot is a unit of measure. For designation in writing, a stroke (') is used.
Features of magnitude
Before the Europeans began to use the metric system, this unit was measured as 12 inches, one inch equated to the height of the thumb.
But it was easier and more convenient to consider a given length, especially if the distance was large, given the length of the foot. These standards are used in the distant past. Scientists suggest that the Egyptians used this method first, and the method was adopted by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Since Roman legionaries wore special sandals, if necessary, measure the length or distance, they did not take off their shoes.
Foote is a word of English origin. The Russian translation sounds like a "foot" or "foot," and the British version is sandals worn by legionaries.
Undoubtedly, for each person the individual sizes of body parts, and the feet are significantly different in size. Therefore, this word did not have a clearly marked number at the beginning.
New units sometimes appeared due to such differences. In the history of the recorded case when King Edgar - the ruler of Britain - decided to introduce a new unit, taking into account the parameters of his own body: starting from the nose and ending with the tip of the middle finger of an outstretched hand.
As a result, a yard appeared, and since the human body is harmonious and proportional, one yard was three feet. All orders of the ruler were strictly required to be executed, therefore the whole country was forced to use just such a unit of measure for the calculations.
But after the death of King Edgar, his body proportions no longer played a dominant role, so I had to calculate everything differently, adjusting to the next ruler.
At one time, the next king of England - Henry I, the son of William the Conqueror - decided this question simply: he issued a decree ordering that his foot be taken as a measure of length. Such parameters were able to hold out for many centuries until a convenient metric system appeared, which was accepted by many states - it was so convenient to conduct trade transactions, to conclude agreements with international partners.
The British did not immediately adopt this system, but over time, they unified the foot.
How many meters in 1 foot
Foot exists not only in England, but its exact linear value differs in other countries. In order to clarify this issue, a conference was convened in 1958, which brought together participants in English-speaking countries. After numerous debates, they unified their legally defined units of length, and a clear figure was defined at the foot - 0.3048 meters.
If you urgently need to convert feet to meters, the data will help:
- 6 feet corresponds to 1,829 meters;
- 10 - 3.048 meters;
- 20 - 6.096 meters;
- 30 - 9,144 meters;
- 40 - 12,192 meters;
- 100 - 30.48 meters.
1 square foot equals 0.0929 meters.
1 square meter corresponds to 10,763910 square feet.
The foot has a very long and interesting history that goes back thousands of years. It is surprising that now he also takes part in various calculations, he is also referred to and used even in academic circles, considering that it is very convenient.
An example of another problem with feet is in the following video.
