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To convert from Foot (ft) to Fathom (fathom), use the following formula:
Let's convert 5 Foot (ft) to Fathom (fathom).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Foot (ft) is equal to Fathom (fathom).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Foot (ft) to Fathom (fathom):
| Feet | Fathoms |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 ft | fathom |
| 0.001 ft | fathom |
| 0.1 ft | fathom |
| 1 ft | fathom |
| 2 ft | fathom |
| 3 ft | fathom |
| 4 ft | fathom |
| 5 ft | fathom |
| 6 ft | fathom |
| 7 ft | fathom |
| 8 ft | fathom |
| 9 ft | fathom |
| 10 ft | fathom |
| 20 ft | fathom |
| 30 ft | fathom |
| 40 ft | fathom |
| 50 ft | fathom |
| 100 ft | fathom |
| 1000 ft | fathom |
| 10000 ft | fathom |
For all Length converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
The foot (ft) is a standard unit of length in the Imperial and U.S. customary systems of measurement.
The plural form is feet.
There are exactly 12 inches in a foot.
This fundamental conversion is the cornerstone of the Imperial and U.S. customary systems. It's a standard used everywhere, from measuring personal height to completing construction projects.
Additionally, it's helpful to know that 3 feet make one yard.
The origin of the "foot" as a unit of measurement is quite literal—it was historically based on the average length of a human foot.
Ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, often used body parts as a basis for measurement.
Because the actual length of a person's foot could vary, so did the measurement. This led to many inconsistencies until the foot was officially standardized.
Although most of the world uses the metric system, the foot is still an official unit of length in the United States.
It is also commonly used in countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, particularly for measuring height, altitude, and property dimensions.
To establish a global standard, the international foot was defined in 1959 as being exactly 0.3048 meters.
This precise conversion is crucial for international science, trade, and engineering.
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.