Convert span (cloth) to rod (US survey) Online | Free Length Converter

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Span (Cloth)


A span is an old unit of length based on the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger of a fully extended hand. Traditionally, it measures about 9 inches or 22.86 centimeters.


In the context of cloth and textiles, the span was used as a convenient, informal measure to estimate small lengths of fabric before standardized rulers became widespread. It was helpful for tailors and traders to quickly gauge lengths during measuring and cutting.


While the span is largely obsolete as a formal unit today, it reflects historical measurement practices tied closely to the human body, similar to the cubit or hand.


Summary:



  • 1 span β‰ˆ 9 inches (22.86 cm)



  • Based on the hand’s spread



  • Used historically in cloth measurement and tailoring



  • Now mostly of historical and cultural interest


Rod (US Survey)


The US survey rod is a unit of length used in U.S. land surveying. It is defined as exactly 16.5 US survey feet, which is slightly longer than the international foot. Since one US survey foot equals approximately 0.3048006096 meters, the US survey rod measures about 5.0292 meters.


The survey rod, also called a pole or perch, is historically significant in the U.S. Public Land Survey System and is used to measure land boundaries and distances.


Key facts:



  • 1 US survey rod = 16.5 US survey feet



  • 1 US survey rod β‰ˆ 5.0292 meters



  • 4 US survey rods = 1 US survey chain



  • 40 US survey rods = 1 US survey furlong



Though the US survey foot and related units are being phased out in favor of international units, the US survey rod still appears in legal land descriptions and older surveying documents.




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