Convert chain (US survey) to Earth polar radius Online | Free Length Converter

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Chain (US Survey)


The US survey chain is a unit of length used historically in land surveying in the United States. It is defined as exactly 66 US survey feet, which is slightly longer than the international foot. Since one US survey foot equals about 0.3048006096 meters, the US survey chain is approximately 20.11684 meters long.


Like the standard chain, it is divided into 100 links, each measuring 0.66 US survey feet. The US survey chain was widely used in the Public Land Survey System to measure land parcels and boundaries.


Key facts:



  • 1 US survey chain = 66 US survey feet



  • 1 US survey chain ≈ 20.11684 meters



  • 10 US survey chains = 1 furlong



  • 80 US survey chains = 1 US survey mile



Though the US survey foot and chain are being phased out in favor of international units, the US survey chain still appears in historical land records and some legal contexts.


Earth Polar Radius


The Earth's polar radius is the distance from the center of the Earth to the North or South Pole. It measures the Earth’s radius along its rotational axis.



  • Its value is approximately 6,356.8 kilometers (about 3,949.9 miles).



  • The Earth is an oblate spheroid, so the polar radius is slightly shorter than the equatorial radius due to the planet's flattening at the poles.



  • This measurement is crucial for geodesy, understanding Earth’s shape, and satellite navigation.



Key facts:



  • Polar radius ≈ 6,356.8 km



  • Smaller than equatorial radius by about 21.3 km



  • Important for precise Earth modeling and mapping



The difference between the polar and equatorial radius reflects the Earth’s rotation and its effect on the planet’s shape.




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