So many items are built daily with different lengths. Common units of measurement of the length of things include meters, centimeters, feet and so many others.
Preference dictates which unit is used since there are converters for each individual unit.
The SI measurement system uses the meter as its basic unit of length. The meter is the distance traveled by light through a vacuum in exactly 1/299792458 seconds.
By defining the meter in this manner, the speed of light is fixed to the exact value of 299,792,458 m/s in a vacuum.
As previously defined, the meter was equal to one ten-millionth of the distance from the geographic north pole to the equator, measured over the earth’s surface in a circle around Paris, France. The letter “m” is used in measurements to denote meters.
If this sounds confusing, read on to learn about some common things that are 4 meters long!
1. Volkswagen Beetle
In the period from 1938 until 2003, Volkswagen (VW) manufactured and marketed the Beetle, a two-door, rear-engine economy car that was designed and marketed for five occupants (in some countries, Beetles were limited to four people).
Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, formulated the concept and the functional objectives for the people’s car (Volkswagen in German). The new road network (Reichsautobahn) in his country required a simple, affordable car.
During the Spanish Civil War, the National Socialist Party lost most of its production resources to military vehicles in support of Francisco Franco’s Nationalists. Members of the party paid an additional dues surcharge to receive the first production.
The design of the Volkswagen Beetle at this time was 4 meters long.
2. Giraffe
Giraffes are artiodactyl mammals native to Africa, the tallest land animals and largest ruminants in the world. The Giraffa camelopardalis is traditionally considered a single species with nine subspecies.
However, studies of mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, and morphological measurements of Giraffa have shown that there are nine extant giraffe species worldwide. Seven others that have been identified by fossils are extinct.
There are several characteristics that distinguish the giraffe from other animals. Giraffes usually feed on leaves, fruits, flowers of woody plants, mostly Acacia species, which they browse from heights most other herbivores cannot reach. Giraffes are usually around 4 meters long after a couple of months.
3. Two Christmas Trees
The Christmas tree is a decorated tree. It may be an evergreen conifer, such as fir, spruce, or pine, or it may be an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with Christmas.
The term actually originated from Germany because of Saint Boniface. German Protestant Christians began decorating their homes with Christmas trees during medieval Livonia (present-day Estonia and Latvia) and early modern Germany.
The traditional decorations for the Christmas tree were roses made of colored paper, apples, wafers, tinsel, and sweetmeats. Garlands, baubles, tinsel, candy canes, and baubles are just a few of the many ornaments available today, whether they are traditional or modern.
As a representation of the Star of Bethlehem or the angel Gabriel, an angel or star can be placed at the top of the tree. One Christmas tree is usually 2 meters long and two of these add up to a length of 4 meters exactly.
4. Kitchen Counter
Countertops or kitchen benches are the firm, horizontal surfaces of counters. Work areas such as kitchens, lavatories, bathrooms, and restrooms are common places to find them.
Surfaces are often installed upon and supported by cabinets at an ergonomic height, depending on their intended use.
Depending on the intended use, a countertop may be constructed from various materials with different functional, durability, and aesthetic attributes.
Additionally, the countertop may have built-in appliances or accessories. The average kitchen countertop is 4 meters long.
5. Japans Longest Sword: Norimitsu Odachi
Swords are bladed weapons with sharp edges intended for cutting and thrusting. Its blade, which is longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved.
Thrusting swords generally have straighter blades with pointed tips. There is a greater likelihood that a slashing sword will be curved and will have a sharpened cutting edge on one or both sides. Several swords can be thrust as well as slashed.
Swords were primarily used in the bronze age when most of them were designed and popular. At this time, most swords had blades that measured 4 meters.
6. Large Staircase Steps
Many times, tall buildings have staircases that link each floor. These staircases consist of steps for each move upwards to be completed and usually, they have a uniform diameter.
The most common length of steps is usually 0.8 meters. However, very large steps can be as long as 4 meters if necessary.
7. Three A0 Papers and One A2 Paper
Paper sizes differ a lot. A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and other A papers are the most common due to their popular use for paperwork in most offices and businesses. The paper size standards dictate the size of sheets of paper used to print writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents.
The ISO 216 standard is the international standard for paper sizes, including the popular A4 size. Globally, it is used except in North America and parts of Central and South America where North American paper sizes such as “Letter” and “Legal” are used.
Three A0 papers laid out at length, account for a length of 3.6 meters, add in an A2 paper and you have just a bit more that 4 meters of paper laid out.
The dimension of stuff has been an interest of mine ever since I was a child. What I believe is most fascinating about the dimension of stuff is how extremely long, tall and wide some objects are both on earth and in the universe.