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.
Hectometer
A hectometer (hm) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to 100 meters. It is larger than a meter but smaller than a kilometer. While it is part of the official metric system, the hectometer is rarely used in daily life or science. For example, a running track is 400 meters long, which is 4 hectometers. The symbol for hectometer is "hm". Although not commonly seen, it can be useful for measuring medium-range distances, especially when kilometers feel too large and meters too small.
No conversions available for length.