Colombian units of measurement

Last updated

A variety of units of measurement were used in Colombia to measure quantities like length, mass and area. In Colombia, International Metric System has adopted since 1853, and has been compulsory since 1854. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Pre-metric units

Several different units were used before 1854. Older system before Metric system was derived from Spanish Castillian System. [2]

Length

Different units were used to measure length. As in the 1920s too, some units were derived from metric system. One vara was equal to 0.8 m (or 0.84 m [4] ). Some other units are provided below: [1] [2]

1 pulgada = 1⁄32 vara

1 cuarta = 1⁄4 vara

1 pie = 1⁄3 vara [2]

1 cuadra = 100 varas

1 legua = 6250 varas

Mass

A number of units were used to measure mass. As in 1920s too, some units were derived from the metric system. One libra was equal to 0.500 kg (i.e. 500 g) (or 0.54354 kg [4] ). Some other units are provided below: [1] [2]

1 onza = 1⁄16 libra

1 arroba = 25 libra

1 quintal = 100 libra

1 saco = 125 libra

1 carga = 250 libra

1 tonelada = 2000 libra

Area

Several units were used to measure area. As in 1920s too, some units were derived from metric system. one vara2 was equal to 0.64 m2, and one fanegada was equal to 10,000 vara2 [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pound (mass)</span> Unit of mass

The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in both the British imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. Various definitions have been used; the most common today is the international avoirdupois pound, which is legally defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms, and which is divided into 16 avoirdupois ounces. The international standard symbol for the avoirdupois pound is lb; an alternative symbol is lbm, #, and ℔ or ″̶.

The ounce is any of several different units of mass, weight, or volume and is derived almost unchanged from the uncia, an Ancient Roman unit of measurement.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Argentina as its national system was derived from Spanish Castillian. The metric system was legally optional since 1863 and has been compulsory since 1887.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Brazil to measure quantities including length, area, volume, and mass as those units were derived from Portugal and had significant local variances.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Chile to measure quantities like length, mass, area, capacity, etc. From 1848, the metric system has been compulsory in Chile.

A number of units of measurement were used in Costa Rica to measure measurements in length, mass, area, capacity, etc. In Costa Rica, metric system has been adopted since 1910, and has been compulsory since 1912, by a joint convention among Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Salvador.

A number of units of measurement were used in Honduras for length, mass, volume etc. In Honduras, the metric system was adopted in 1910, and has been compulsory since 1912, under a joint convention between Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

A number of units of measurement were used in Nicaragua to measure measurements in mass, area, volume, etc. In Nicaragua, the metric system was adopted in 1910, and has been compulsory since 1912, by a joint convention between Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

A number of units of measurement were used in Cuba to measure quantities like mass, area, and capacity. In Cuba, Metric system has been compulsory since 1858.

A number of different units of measurement were historically used in Cyprus to measure quantities like length, mass, area and capacity. Before the Metric system, the Imperial system was used. In between 1986-1988, metric system was adopted in Cyprus.

A number of units of measurement were used in Egypt to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. In Egypt, the metric system was made optional in 1873 and has been compulsory in government use since 1891.

A number of units of measurement were used in Guinea to measure length, mass, etc. Since 1910, the metric system has been compulsory in Guinea.

A number of units of measurement were used in Indonesia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. Metric system adopted in 1923 and has been compulsory in Indonesia since 1938.

A number of units of measurement were used in Mexico to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. The Metric system was optional from 1857, and has been compulsory since 1896.

A number of units of measurement were used in Paraguay to measure quantities including length, mass, area, capacity, etc. Metric system had been optional since 1890, and adopted since 1899 in Paraguay.

A number of units of measurement were used in Peru to measure length, mass, area, etc. The Metric system adopted in 1862 and has been compulsory since 1869 in Peru.

A number of units of measurement were used in Switzerland to measure length, mass, etc. Metric system was optional in 1868, and has been compulsory since 1877.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Libya to measure length, mass, area, etc. The metric system was adopted in Libya in 1927.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Tunisia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. In Tunisia, Metric System has been compulsory since 1895.

A number of units of measurement were used in Venezuela to measure quantities like length, mass, etc. Metric system was optional in Venezuela since 1857, and has been compulsory since 1914.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. pp. 4, 5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins . London: Springer. pp.  158, 159. ISBN   978-1-4471-1122-1.
  3. ↑ Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 24.
  4. 1 2 Abad, L.A.; Davies, E.; Zanden, J.L.v. (1891), Between conquest and independence: Real wages and demographic change in Spanish America, 1530-1820 (in the journal, Explorations in Economic History), Middlebury College, United States and Utrecht University, The Netherlands: elsevier, p. 15
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.