Geographical mile: Difference between revisions
wikademia>Icairns add See also section + fix link to weights and measures |
wikademia>Egil Used on land also, but to a limited degree |
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The unit is not used much; it is closely related to the [[nautical mile]], which was originally determined as 1 minute of arc along a [[great circle]] of the Earth and is nowadays defined to be exactly 1852 metres. | The unit is not used much; it is closely related to the [[nautical mile]], which was originally determined as 1 minute of arc along a [[great circle]] of the Earth and is nowadays defined to be exactly 1852 metres. | ||
The [[Denmark|Danish]] and [[Germany|German]] '''geographical mile''' (''mil'' and ''Meile'') is 4 minutes of arc, and was defined as 7421.5 metres by the astronomer [[Ole Rømer]] of [[Denmark]]. In [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]], this geographical mile was | The [[Denmark|Danish]] and [[Germany|German]] '''geographical mile''' (''mil'' and ''Meile'') is 4 minutes of arc, and was defined as approximately 7421.5 metres by the astronomer [[Ole Rømer]] of [[Denmark]]. In [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]], this 4 minute geographical mile was mainly used at sea (''sjømil''), up to the beginning of the 20th century. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Medieval weights and measures]] for details of the geographical [[league]] of [[France]] | *[[Medieval weights and measures]] for details of the geographical [[league]] of [[France]] | ||
*[[conversion of units]] | *[[conversion of units]] | ||
*[[mile]] for the various other miles in use | |||
[[Category:Units of length]] | [[Category:Units of length]] | ||
Revision as of 04:55, 12 August 2005
The geographical mile is a unit of length determined by 1 minute of arc along the Earth's equator, approximately equal to 1855 metres (6087.15 international feet).
The unit is not used much; it is closely related to the nautical mile, which was originally determined as 1 minute of arc along a great circle of the Earth and is nowadays defined to be exactly 1852 metres.
The Danish and German geographical mile (mil and Meile) is 4 minutes of arc, and was defined as approximately 7421.5 metres by the astronomer Ole Rømer of Denmark. In Norway and Sweden, this 4 minute geographical mile was mainly used at sea (sjømil), up to the beginning of the 20th century.
See also
- Medieval weights and measures for details of the geographical league of France
- conversion of units
- mile for the various other miles in use