Importance of taking Measurements
Have you ever thought about the importance of taking measurements? Taking measurements is one of the important, common, and daily activities of our day-to-day life. We can't imagine spending a day without measuring anything. Without measurements, the world would have been complete chaos.
It is an integral part of our daily routine. Starting from Cooking, where a measured amount of ingredients are added to cook food properly; purchasing items so that fixed amounts can be allocated to certain objects medicines, in which a fixed dosage is required to treat a particular disease, to decide the winner among the participants, etc.
Image will be uploaded soon
Today, we follow a standard unit of measurements for length, mass, volume, and time. But have ever wondered how these measurements were taken when such units did not come into existence.
Length
In early days, the human body was used to provide the basis for units of length
Inch: It was used to measure the length of items small in size, for example, the seam of a cloth, length of the paper, etc. Inch is the measure of the human thumb.
Foot: Foot is defined as the measure of length 15.3 % of the height of a human body with an average height of 160 cm. This unit differed from place to place and trade to trade. This unit was preferred by Roman and Greeks and was mainly used to calculate the size of a piece of cloth, the height of human beings and cattle, the size of a building, etc.
Cubit: Cubit is the unit of measurement of length based on the length of the forearm, from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow bottom. It was preferred by Egyptians and Mesopotamians. Cubit rods have been discovered in the remains of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Usually, these rods are 20 inches in length, which are divided into seven palms; each palm is further divided into four fingers which are further subdivided.
Yard: Yard is the unit of distance, which is based on human paces. A yard is equivalent to two cubits or three feet, which is approximately 36 inches. The early yard was divided by the binary method into 2, 4, 8, and 16 parts called the half-yard, span, finger, and nail Miles.
A foot comprises 12 inches and three feet comprise a yard. Such measurements as these, it was easy to explain how far the next village was and to find out whether an object will get through a doorway.
Weight
In early times, to measure weight the grains of wheat or barleycorn were used because of their approximate standard size. The barleycorn was used to weigh the precious metals silver and gold. Large units preserved in stone standards were developed that were used as both units of mass and monetary currency. The standard unit was taken to the number of grains of wheat. This is even now being used by some jewellers. 64.79891 milligrams sums up to make one grain.
Image will be uploaded soon
A metal with measured length was used to be kept in the town center or the temples and copies of the same were distributed among the people of that community. This metal lump was considered as a standard of weight.
Time
Sundial: The movement of the sun in the sky was used to estimate time, which was done based on the length and position of the shadow cast by a vertical stick. Then the marks were made where the sun's shadow fell, which gave an approximate measure of time of the day consistently. The device came to be called a sundial.
Image will be uploaded soon
Water Clock: It was used to measure time-based on the amount of water dripping from a tank. This method of measurement was not considered reliable because the flow of water is difficult to be controlled. The device was termed as Clepsydra.
Image will be uploaded soon
Hourglass: To estimate the time, this device is used. The hourglass works on the same principle followed by a water clock. It uses sand instead of water. It is still found in some places, in a reduced form, and also in use. It has two vertically connected glass bulbs that allow a regulated flow of a substance from the upper bulb to the lower one.
The upper and lower bulbs are kept symmetric so that the hourglass will measure the same duration regardless of orientation. There are various factors that contribute for the calculation of the specific duration of time. These include the quantity and coarseness of the particulate matter, the bulb size, etc.
FAQs on Conventional Methods of Measurement
1. What is the importance of measurement in our daily lives?
Measurement is essential in our daily lives for many simple tasks. For example, we use it to measure ingredients for cooking, check a person's temperature with a thermometer, tell the time, and measure the correct dose of medicine. It helps us understand quantities and ensures consistency and accuracy in everything from building a house to baking a cake.
2. What are some examples of conventional or non-standard units of measurement?
Conventional, or non-standard, units of measurement were based on body parts or common objects. Some popular examples include:
- Handspan: The distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger of a spread-out hand.
- Cubit: The length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
- Footstep or Pace: The distance covered by a single step.
- Angul (Finger Width): The width of a finger.
3. Why did we need to switch from conventional units like a 'handspan' to standard units like a 'metre'?
The main problem with conventional units like a handspan or footstep is that they are not consistent. The length of a handspan or cubit is different for every person. This caused confusion in trade and construction. We switched to standard units, like the metre, because they have a fixed value that is the same for everyone, everywhere, ensuring fairness and accuracy.
4. What exactly is a standard unit of measurement?
A standard unit is a unit of measurement that has a fixed, universally accepted value. It does not change from person to person or place to place. This consistency is crucial for science, industry, and trade. Examples include the metre for length, the kilogram for mass, and the second for time.
5. What were some of the earliest measurement systems used in ancient times?
The earliest known measurement systems originated in ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia. They used body parts for length (like the cubit and handspan) and natural cycles for time (movements of the sun and moon). For measuring volume, they would fill containers with plant seeds and then count the seeds to compare sizes.
6. How is a simple measuring tape used to measure length correctly?
To measure length accurately with a measuring tape, you should follow three simple steps:
- First, place the zero mark of the tape exactly at the starting point of the object.
- Next, keep the tape straight and tight along the length you want to measure, without any slack or bends.
- Finally, read the marking on the tape that aligns perfectly with the end point of the object.
