Related to the last point the french word for inch is pouce which also. Long before the thumb would be used to measure almost everything.
Human Body Ratio Lengths Mathematicalenquiries
Measurement using body parts. Here are a few more. It might also help you remember the measurements because you have to use parts of your body instead of inches feet and yards. It is designed to measure the forehead temperature of the human body easily and quickly. 10 responses to body parts as tools of measurement chris on january 21 2009 136 am. In the windless environment just keep the infrared temperature gun on the bridge of the nose and in the middle of the two eyes with 3 5cm vertical distance where is the radiation source closest to normal body temperature you can. Although its a nonstandard unit of measurement its conveniently with you all the time.
First nothing in nature is consistent enough for precision measurement they get used early then abandoned the name sticks around the unt they no longer use the actual thing. A more accurate way use your body parts to estimate length is to know your own measurements. Forehead infrared thermometer is an infrared temperature measurement tool. These estimates are just that. Devin johnston on january 21 2009 259 am. The romans used this measurement and so can you.
The width of your own palm the length of your own foot and so on. Your body can be used as a measuring tool when you dont have a measuring tape conveniently with you. Example carpenters use their thumb to measure small insignificant measurements. Hand hand fingers thumb. Examples include body parts grain seeds or livestock body parts feet were the most common just becasue the first thing that people are measuring is ground distances and feet are convenient. Knowing the approximate length of my arm is surprisingly handy because its extremely easy to use for rough measurements.
Another measurement that i use is an inch made by bending my ring finger into a tabletop shape. The cubit was just one of numerous units of measurement based on the typical size of body parts. Measurement of objects using body parts the handful the thumb measures 1 inch which is now the basis of measurement. What an interesting post.
Gallery of Measurement Using Body Parts
