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To convert from Centimeter (cm) to Fathom (fathom), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
Let's convert 5 Centimeter (cm) to Fathom (fathom).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Centimeter (cm) is equal to Fathom (fathom).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Centimeter (cm) to Fathom (fathom):
| Centimeters | Fathoms |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 cm | fathom |
| 0.001 cm | fathom |
| 0.1 cm | fathom |
| 1 cm | fathom |
| 2 cm | fathom |
| 3 cm | fathom |
| 4 cm | fathom |
| 5 cm | fathom |
| 6 cm | fathom |
| 7 cm | fathom |
| 8 cm | fathom |
| 9 cm | fathom |
| 10 cm | fathom |
| 20 cm | fathom |
| 30 cm | fathom |
| 40 cm | fathom |
| 50 cm | fathom |
| 100 cm | fathom |
| 1000 cm | fathom |
| 10000 cm | fathom |
For all Length converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
A centimeter (cm) is a unit of length in the metric system.
It is equal to one hundredth of a meter (0.01 m). The plural form is centimeters.
One of the most crucial facts about the centimeter is its relationship with the inch.
There are exactly 2.54 centimeters in one inch.
This precise conversion factor is essential for global trade, engineering, and daily life. It enables easy and accurate translation between the metric system (used by most of the world) and the imperial system (still used in countries such as the United States).
Gaining a clear understanding of this cm to inch conversion is essential for various tasks, including purchasing clothing and international manufacturing.
The centimeter is a cornerstone of the Centimeter-Gram-Second (CGS) system of units.
This system was an essential precursor to the modern International System of Units (SI).
In the CGS system, the centimeter was the base unit of length, the gram the base unit of mass, and the second the base unit of time.
While less common today, it's still widely used in specific fields of physics, such as astrophysics, for calculating other vital units like force and energy.
To understand how big a centimeter is, it helps to use common items as a useful mental benchmark. This is great for estimating its length without a ruler.
A centimeter is approximately the same width as:
A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial system of measurement.
It is most famously used for measuring the depth of water.
A fathom is equal to exactly 6 feet (or 1.8288 meters). The plural form is fathoms.
The word "fathom" originates from the Old English word "fæthm," which means "outstretched arms" or "a pair of embracing arms."
Historically, a fathom was defined as the distance from the middle fingertip of one hand to the middle fingertip of the other when a person's arms are fully extended.
This made it a convenient and readily available unit of measurement for sailors and workers.
The fathom is best known for its use in a nautical context to measure water depth.
Mariners would drop a weighted line, called a sounding line, into the water and count the number of "arm spans" it took to reach the bottom.
This measurement was crucial for safe navigation, anchoring, and creating nautical charts to map the seabed.
While modern technology and the metric system have replaced the fathom in official hydrographic surveys, its influence persists.
The term is still used informally in commercial fishing and can be found on many older nautical charts.
Figuratively, the verb "to fathom"—meaning to understand something deeply—is a direct link to the original act of measuring depth and getting to the bottom of things.