What Is Centimeters?
A centimeter is a unit used to measure how long or how wide something is. It belongs to the metric system. Centimeters are good for measuring small things like school supplies or parts of your body.
Definition
A centimeter is a unit of length in the metric system. It is shorter than a meter.
One centimeter is exactly one hundredth of a meter.
Written as a number, this is:
- 1 centimeter = 0.01 meter
- 100 centimeters = 1 meter
Centimeters help us measure things that are not tiny like dust but also not huge like a building. For example, the width of a notebook or the height of a water bottle is often given in centimeters.
History / Origin
The centimeter comes from the metric system. The metric system started in France in the late 1700s. People wanted a simple way to measure that used the same system everywhere.
The basic metric unit for length is the meter. Smaller and larger units were made by adding simple prefixes to the meter. The word centi means one hundredth. So a centimeter means one hundredth of a meter.
This clear idea made measuring easier. Over time, many countries accepted the metric system, including the centimeter, for science, school, and everyday life.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The symbol for centimeter is:
- cm
Important points:
- The symbol uses lowercase letters c and m.
- There is no period needed after cm in most cases.
- Write the number first, then the unit, with a space in between. For example 12 cm, 3.5 cm.
Current Use Around the World
Centimeters are used in most countries that follow the metric system. This includes almost all of Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and many other places.
Common uses include:
- School and homework length in math and science problems
- Clothes and body size measuring waist, height, or foot size
- Building and crafts measuring wood, fabric, or paper sizes
- Everyday items phone screens, book sizes, or furniture parts
In some countries like the United States, people mostly use inches and feet in daily life. However, centimeters are still used in science, medicine, and many products, such as on rulers, medicine labels, or electronics.
Example Conversions
Here are some easy conversions that show how centimeters compare to other units.
Centimeters and millimeters
- 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
- 5 centimeters = 50 millimeters
- 10 centimeters = 100 millimeters
Centimeters and meters
- 1 centimeter = 0.01 meter
- 50 centimeters = 0.5 meter
- 100 centimeters = 1 meter
- 250 centimeters = 2.5 meters
Centimeters and kilometers
- 1 centimeter = 0.00001 kilometer
- 100 000 centimeters = 1 kilometer
Centimeters and inches
Centimeters and inches are both used to measure length, but they are not the same size.
- 1 inch is about 2.54 centimeters
- 1 centimeter is about 0.39 inch
Some examples
- 10 cm is about 3.94 inches
- 30 cm is about 11.81 inches, almost 1 foot
- 100 cm is about 39.37 inches, a little more than 3 feet
Related Units
Centimeters are part of a family of length units. Here are some related ones.
- Millimeter mm smaller than a centimeter. 10 mm = 1 cm.
- Meter m base unit for length in the metric system. 100 cm = 1 m.
- Kilometer km used for long distances like roads. 100 000 cm = 1 km.
- Inch in common in the United States. 1 in is about 2.54 cm.
- Foot ft another non metric unit. 1 ft = 12 in which is about 30.48 cm.
FAQs
What is a centimeter used for
A centimeter is used to measure the length or height of small to medium sized objects. You might use it to measure a pencil, a book, or your hand.
Is a centimeter bigger than a millimeter
Yes. A centimeter is bigger than a millimeter. One centimeter equals 10 millimeters.
Is a centimeter smaller than an inch
Yes. A centimeter is smaller than an inch. One inch is about 2.54 centimeters, so it is more than two times longer than 1 centimeter.
How many centimeters are in a meter
There are 100 centimeters in one meter. If you know the length in meters, you can multiply by 100 to get centimeters.
Why do scientists use centimeters and meters
Scientists like the metric system because it is simple and based on powers of ten. This makes it easy to convert between centimeters, meters, and other metric units using only moving the decimal point.
How can I measure in centimeters without a ruler
It is best to use a ruler, but if you do not have one, you can estimate. For example, the width of an adult thumb is often close to 2 centimeters, but this is only a rough guess.
Are centimeters part of the International System of Units SI
Yes. The official SI base unit for length is the meter, and the centimeter is a decimal part of the meter. The prefix centi shows it is one hundredth of a meter.
Do all countries use centimeters
Most countries use centimeters in daily life. Some countries like the United States mainly use inches and feet, but they still use centimeters in science, medicine, and many products.