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Convert Length from Centimeter to Us Survey Foot (cm to ft-us)
Multiple conversions

Multiple conversions

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Centimeter to US Survey Foot Conversion FormulaExampleWhat is a Centimeter (cm)?How Many Centimeters Are in an Inch?The Centimeter's Role in Science: The CGS SystemHow Big Is a Centimeter? Everyday ExamplesWhat is a US Survey Foot (ft-us)?Where Did the US Survey Foot Come From?Why Was the US Survey Foot Replaced?Why Did This Small Difference Cause Big Problems?What is the metric system?What is the imperial system?Centimeter to US Survey Foot Conversion Table

Centimeter to US Survey Foot Conversion Formula

To convert from Centimeter (cm) to US Survey Foot (ft-us), use the following formula:

 US Survey Foot (ft-us)\textbf{ US Survey Foot} \text{ (ft-us)}

=1100×3.28084×11.000002× Centimeter (cm)= \frac{1}{100} \times 3.28084 \times \frac{1}{1.000002}\times \textbf{ Centimeter} \text{ (cm)}

=0.032808334383331233338× Centimeter (cm)= 0.032808334383331233338\times \textbf{ Centimeter} \text{ (cm)}

With 3.280843.28084 is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).

Example

Let's convert 5 Centimeter (cm) to US Survey Foot (ft-us).

Using the formula:

5×0.032808334383331233338=0.164041671916656166695 \times 0.032808334383331233338 = 0.16404167191665616669

Therefore, 5 Centimeter (cm) is equal to 0.164041671916656166690.16404167191665616669 US Survey Foot (ft-us).

What is a Centimeter (cm)?

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.

How Many Centimeters Are in an Inch?

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's Role in Science: The CGS System

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.

How Big Is a Centimeter? Everyday Examples

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 standard pencil or ballpoint pen.
  • An average adult's pinky fingernail.
  • A common staple.

What is a US Survey Foot (ft-us)?

The US Survey Foot is a unit of length historically used for land surveying in the United States.

It is very close in length to the international foot, equaling approximately 1.000002 international feet (ft). The plural form is US Survey Feet.

Where Did the US Survey Foot Come From?

The origin of the US Survey Foot dates back to the Mendenhall Order of 1893. This order defined the relationship between the meter and US customary units.

It established that 1 meter is precisely equal to 39.37 inches. From this relationship, the US Survey Foot was derived, defined as 1200/3937 meters.

This definition differs slightly from the international foot, which was established in 1959 and is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters.

Why Was the US Survey Foot Replaced?

To simplify measurements and prevent confusion, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) made a critical change.

They officially retired the U.S. Survey Foot on December 31, 2022.

Surveying and mapping applications in the United States will now use the international foot. This critical change helps unify the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and prevents costly errors in large-scale projects.

Why Did This Small Difference Cause Big Problems?

While the difference between a US Survey Foot and an international foot is minuscule—only about two parts per million—it becomes significant over large distances.

For every mile, the discrepancy adds up to approximately 1/8 inch.

This minor error may not be significant for a backyard fence. However, for massive construction projects and infrastructure development, such as bridges that cross state lines, the accumulated error can lead to severe misalignments and costly mistakes.

What is the metric system?

The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement used by nearly every country in the world. Its key feature is the use of prefixes to denote multiples and submultiples of the base units by powers of ten.

What is the imperial system?

The imperial system is a system of measurement that was first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824. It's known for using units like inches, feet, pounds, and gallons. While most of the world now uses the metric system, the imperial system remains the official system of measurement in the United States and is still used in specific contexts in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada.

Centimeter to US Survey Foot Conversion Table

Here are some quick reference conversions from Centimeter (cm) to US Survey Foot (ft-us):

CentimetersUS Survey Feet
0.000001 cm3.2808334383331233338×10−83.2808334383331233338\times 10^{-8} ft-us
0.001 cm0.0000328083343833312333380.000032808334383331233338 ft-us
0.1 cm0.00328083343833312333380.0032808334383331233338 ft-us
1 cm0.0328083343833312333380.032808334383331233338 ft-us
2 cm0.0656166687666624666760.065616668766662466676 ft-us
3 cm0.0984250031499937000140.098425003149993700014 ft-us
4 cm0.131233337533324933350.13123333753332493335 ft-us
5 cm0.164041671916656166690.16404167191665616669 ft-us
6 cm0.196850006299987400030.19685000629998740003 ft-us
7 cm0.229658340683318633370.22965834068331863337 ft-us
8 cm0.26246667506664986670.2624666750666498667 ft-us
9 cm0.295275009449981100040.29527500944998110004 ft-us
10 cm0.328083343833312333380.32808334383331233338 ft-us
20 cm0.656166687666624666760.65616668766662466676 ft-us
30 cm0.984250031499937000140.98425003149993700014 ft-us
40 cm1.31233337533324933351.3123333753332493335 ft-us
50 cm1.64041671916656166691.6404167191665616669 ft-us
100 cm3.28083343833312333383.2808334383331233338 ft-us
1000 cm32.80833438333123333832.808334383331233338 ft-us
10000 cm328.08334383331233338328.08334383331233338 ft-us

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