Have you ever encountered a word you thought was just a general term, only to discover it has a precise measurement behind it? It happens more often than you’d think! Here are 12 words that carry more weight (or length or volume) than we ever realized.
Jiffy
When you say, “I’ll be back in a jiffy,” you probably don’t mean an exact timeframe. But in science, a “jiffy” is a specific unit of time. In physics, it’s the time for light to travel one centimeter in a vacuum, roughly 33.3564 picoseconds. So next time you promise a jiffy, know it’s quite the sprint!
Minute
We all know a minute is 60 seconds, but did you know there’s another kind of minute? In navigation, a “minute” of arc is an angular measurement unit equal to 1/60th of a degree. It’s used in fields requiring precise measurement of angles, such as astronomy and cartography.
Crab
A Crab is a standard unit in astrophotometry used to measure the intensity of astrophysical X-ray sources. It is defined as the intensity of the Crab Nebula at a specific X-ray photon energy. The Crab Nebula, housing the Crab Pulsar, is a powerful X-ray source in space.
Slug
No, we’re not talking about the slimy creature. In the Imperial system, a slug is a unit of mass equivalent to 32.174 pounds or roughly 14.6 kilograms. It’s commonly used in engineering and physics when calculating force and acceleration.
Nibble
In computing, a nibble is half a byte or four bits. With larger data storage capabilities, it’s used less frequently now. However, it’s still a fun term to know when discussing old-school computer systems.
Cent
In music, a “cent” refers to the smallest unit of measurement in pitch. It equals 1/100th of a semitone and is often used in tuning instruments or vocal performances for precise intonation. So next time you hear someone say they are singing a note “5 cents sharp,” you’ll know exactly what they mean.
League
Often heard in tales of old seafarers and explorers, a league measures distance, not time. Specifically, one league equals three nautical miles. So, when Captain Nemo traveled “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” that would be a mind-boggling 60,000 nautical miles if taken literally!
Stone
If you’ve ever watched British television, you might have heard someone’s weight described in stones. One stone is equivalent to 14 pounds. It’s an old British unit of measurement that is still commonly used today in the UK for measuring body weight.
Pint
This might seem straightforward, but there are two kinds of pints—US and UK. A US pint is 16 fluid ounces, whereas a UK pint is 20. So, your pint of beer might be a bit more generous across the pond.
Hand
In the horse world, a hand measures a horse’s height. One hand is equivalent to four inches. So when you hear someone say their horse is 15 hands high, it stands at 60 inches tall.
Knot
When discussing the speed of a ship or plane, a knot equals one nautical mile per hour. This term dates back to the days of sailing when sailors measured speed by counting the knots in a rope as they let it out.
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Barn
In physics, a “barn” measures the cross-sectional area of particles in nuclear reactions. It’s roughly equivalent to 10^-28 square meters, which may seem small but is quite large on a subatomic level. The term was initially coined as a joke by scientists and has stuck around ever since.
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