Mile Measurements.......

Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by Wynand N, Dec 18, 2004.

  1. Wynand N
    Joined: Oct 2004
    Posts: 1,260
    Likes: 148, Points: 73, Legacy Rep: 1806
    Location: South Africa

    Wynand N Retired Steelboatbuilder

    Hi everyone :)

    Does anyone knows why a nautical mile is not the same distance as a land (statute) mile :?:

    Nautical mile = 1.1515 statute miles or 1,8531 meters
    Statute mile = 0.8685 nautical mile or 1,609.3 meters
     
    Wynand N, Dec 18, 2004
    #1
  2. Dutch Peter
    Joined: Aug 2004
    Posts: 645
    Likes: 7, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 66
    Location: The Netherlands

    Dutch Peter Senior Member

    I guess because the nautical mile is related to the periphery of the earth
    (periphery earth/(360 degrees*60minutes) = 1 minute = 1 nautical mile)

    and the statute mile is related to a humans foot, or evensmaller a man's thumb
    (inch*12 = 1 foot*3 = 1 yard*1760 = 1 statute mile)
     
    Dutch Peter, Dec 18, 2004
    #2
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