Definition:Metric System/Length/Centimetre
Centimetre
The centimetre is the CGS base unit of length.
| \(\ds \) | \(\) | \(\ds 1\) | centimetre | |||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 10\) | millimetres | |||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 10 \, 000\) | microns | |||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 0 \cdotp 01\) | metres | |||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 0.3937\) | inches |
Symbol
- $\mathrm {cm}$
The symbol for the centimetre is $\mathrm {cm}$:
Its $\LaTeX$ code is \mathrm {cm} .
Square Centimetre
The square centimetre is the CGS unit of area.
The symbol for the square centimetre is $\mathrm {cm}^2$ or (the informal and ugly) $\mathrm {sq}. \ \mathrm {cm}$.
Cubic Centimetre
The cubic centimetre is the CGS unit of volume.
The symbol for the cubic centimetre is $\mathrm {cm}^3$ or (informally) $\mathrm {cc}$.
Historical Note
The centimetre was initially defined as:
- $10^{-9}$ the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole at sea level
that is:
- $\frac 1 {100}$ the length of a metre.
Its importance as one of the base units of the CGS system has waned, as the MKS system has supplanted it in importance.
Linguistic Note
The spelling centimetre is the one adopted by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Centimeter is the variant used in standard American English.
See the linguistic note on metre.
Sources
- 1944: Alfred E. Holbrow: Geometrical Drawing (12th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Section $\text I$. Introduction
- 1964: D.E. Rutherford: Classical Mechanics (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$: Kinematics: $1$. Space and Time
- 1966: Isaac Asimov: Understanding Physics ... (previous) ... (next): $\text {I}$: Motion, Sound and Heat: Chapter $2$: Falling Bodies: Free Fall
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $100$
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $100$