Mile: Difference between revisions
imported>Milton Beychok (Re-formatted a bit) |
imported>Milton Beychok m (Added clearance around table.) |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
{{see also|U.S. customary units}} | {{see also|U.S. customary units}} | ||
{| border="0" width="215" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="wrap=no" | |||
| | |||
{| class="wikitable" align="right" | {| class="wikitable" align="right" | ||
|+ The statute mile<br/>in relation to other units | |+ The statute mile<br/>in relation to other units | ||
| Line 25: | Line 27: | ||
| 1 mile | | 1 mile | ||
| 63 360 [[inch]]es | | 63 360 [[inch]]es | ||
|} | |||
|} | |} | ||
The '''mile''' is a unit of distance measure in the [[U.S. customary units|United States customary system of measures]] and in the Imperial System of Units. The mile, abbreviated ''mi.'', is 5280 [[foot (measure)|feet]] long, or exactly 1609.344 [[metre|m]]. | The '''mile''' is a unit of distance measure in the [[U.S. customary units|United States customary system of measures]] and in the Imperial System of Units. The mile, abbreviated ''mi.'', is 5280 [[foot (measure)|feet]] long, or exactly 1609.344 [[metre|m]]. | ||
Revision as of 22:37, 25 June 2009
- See also: U.S. customary units
|
The mile is a unit of distance measure in the United States customary system of measures and in the Imperial System of Units. The mile, abbreviated mi., is 5280 feet long, or exactly 1609.344 m.
The mile derives originally from the Roman mille passuum, or "thousand paces". Countries and cultures influenced by the Romans have had a variety of measures called "mile" of similar lengths.
The mile is subdivided into 8 furlongs, a unit which has largely passed out of use except in horse-racing. The league was either 3 miles or 6 miles.
The mile most commonly referred to is the statute mile. There is also a nautical mile, originally defined as the distance of one minute of arc along a meridian, and now defined as 1852m exactly, about 6076.1155 feet.
The mile is used today in the United States and the United Kingdom. Both countries continue to use it in official capacities, especially in transport. In some other countries, such as Australia and the Republic of Ireland, the mile continues to be used unofficially by members of the general public.