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rv edits by Jimp. Big step backwards. We do not need the whole first section to be evivs in other units. Please discuss before reformatting the whole article. Perhaps make you wording changes only
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{{redirect|km|other uses|KM}}
{{redirect|km|other uses|KM}}
{{unit of length|
{|
|m= 1000
|-
|accuracy=3 <!--Number of significant figures-->
|colspan=2|The '''kilometre''' ([[American English|American spelling]]: '''kilometer''', symbol '''km'''<ref>For the purposes of compatibility with [[CJK|Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters]] there is a [[Unicode]] symbols for the kilometre, ㎞ (code 339E).</ref>) is a [[Units of measurement|unit]] of [[length]] in the [[metric system]], equal to one thousand [[metre]]s.
⚫
}}
|rowspan=9 width=200pt|{{unit of length|m=1000|accuracy=3}}
A '''kilometre''' ([[American English|American spelling]]: '''kilometer''', symbol '''km''') is a [[Units of measurement|unit]] of [[length]] in the [[metric system]], equal to one thousand [[metre]]s, the current [[International System of Units|SI]] [[SI base unit|base unit]] of length. It can be written in [[scientific notation]]s as 1&times;10³&nbsp;m (engineering notation) or {{nowrap|[[1 E+3 m]]}} (exponential notation) — both meaning {{nowrap|1,000 &times; 1 m}}.
{{TOCright}}
⚫
[[Slang]] terms for kilometre include "click" (sometimes spelled "[[klick]]" or "klik") and "kay" (or "k"). These non-standard terms can also refer to [[kilometre per hour|kilometres per hour]], which itself is abbreviated as [[km/h]], km&nbsp;h<sup>-1</sup>, km·h<sup>-1</sup> or, informally, kph.
|-
|rowspan=8 valign=top align=right|1 kilometre
|= 1,000 metres
|-
⚫
|≈ 0.621 statute [[mile]]s<ref>One international statute mile is equal to 1.609344 kilometres.<br/>the formula "multiply by 5 and divide by 8" gives a conversion of 0.625, accurate to 0.6%, which is a useful approximation</ref>
|-
⚫
|≈ 1,094 [[yard]]s<ref>One international yard is equal to 0.0009144 kilometres.</ref>
|-
⚫
|≈ 3,281 [[foot (length)|feet]]<ref>One international foot is equal to 0.0003048 kilometres.</ref>
|-
⚫
|≈ 0.540 [[nautical mile]]s<ref>One nautical mile is equal to 1.852 kilometres.</ref>
|-
|≈ 6.68{{e|−9}} [[astronomical unit]]s<ref>One astronomical unit is currently accepted to be equal to 149,597,870,691&nbsp;±&nbsp;30 metres.</ref>
|-
|≈ 1.057{{e|−13}} [[light-year]]s<ref>A light-year is equal to 9,460,730,472,580.8 kilometres.</ref>
|-
|≈ 3.24{{e|−14}} [[parsec]]s
⚫
|}


⚫
"Kilometrage" may be used in the same way as "[[Fuel economy in automobiles|mileage]]".
==Terminology==
⚫
[[Slang]] terms for kilometre include ''click'' (sometimes spelled ''[[klick]]'' or ''klik'') and ''kay'' (or ''k''). These non-standard terms can also refer to [[kilometre per hour|kilometres per hour]].


A corresponding unit of [[area]] is the square kilometre and a corresponding unit of [[volume]] is the cubic kilometre.
⚫
''Kilometrage'' may be used in the same way as ''[[Fuel economy in automobiles|mileage]]''.{{fact|date=July 2008}}
== Pronunciation ==


Although, in [[English language|English]], metric units of measurement are usually pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, as in <span style="white-space:nowrap" title="Pronunciation in IPA" class="IPA">/ˈkɪl.əˌmiː.tə(r)/</span>, pronunciation of the word "kilometre" with the stress on the second syllable <span style="white-space:nowrap" title="Pronunciation in IPA" class="IPA">/kɪˈlɒm.ə.tə(r)/</span> is in common usage (see [[List of words of disputed pronunciation]]). The latter pronunciation follows the stress pattern used for the names of measuring instruments, such as [[barometer]], [[thermometer]], [[tachometer]] and [[speedometer]]. This stress pattern is not commonly used for other metric measurements such as [[millimetre]] or [[centimetre]].
There are two [[List of words of disputed pronunciation|different pronunciations]] for the word:

*{{IPA|/ˈkɪl.əˌmiː.tə(r)/}} and
==Equivalence to other units of length==
*{{IPA|/kɪˈlɒm.ə.tə(r)/}}.
1 kilometre is equal to:
The former pronunciation follows the general pattern in [[English language|English]] whereby metric units of measurement are pronounced with the stress on the first syllable. However, the latter pronunciation; which follows the stress pattern used for the names of measuring instruments (such as ''micrometer'', ''barometer'', ''thermometer'', ''tachometer'' and ''speedometer''); is in common usage.
* 1,000 [[metre]]s (1 metre is equal to 0.001 kilometres)
⚫
* about 0.621 statute [[mile]]s (1 statute mile is equal to 1.609344 kilometres)
⚫
** the formula "multiply by 5 and divide by 8" gives a conversion of 0.625, accurate to 0.6%, which is a useful approximation
⚫
* about 1,094 international [[yard]]s (1 international yard is equal to 0.0009144 kilometres)
⚫
* about 3,281 [[Foot (unit of length)|feet]] (1 foot is equal to 0.0003048 kilometres)
* exactly 0.00000000000010570008340246153 Light Years (1 light year is equal to about 9.5 trillion kilometers)


==International usage==
==International usage==
The United Kingdom and the United States are the only two developed countries which continue to use miles on road signs.
The [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States]] are the only two developed countries that have not changed their road signs from miles to kilometres.


Although the UK has officially adopted the metric system, there is no intention to replace the mile on road signs in the near future, owing to the British public's attachment to traditional imperial units of distance, i.e., miles, yards and inches, and the cost of changing speed signs (which could not be replaced during general maintenance, like distance signs, for safety reasons).<ref name=guardian1>{{cite news | author=Andrew Clark | title=Campaign for £80m switch to kilometres | date=[[2006-02-23]] | publisher=[[The Guardian]] | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,1715807,00.html | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref><ref name=bbcref2>{{cite news | title=Call for metric road sign switch | date=[[2006-02-23]] | publisher=[[BBC]] | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4741894.stm | work =BBC News Online | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref> As of [[11 September]] [[2007]], the EU has allowed Britain to continue using the imperial systems. EU commissioner [[Günter Verheugen]] said: "There is not now and never will be any requirement to drop imperial measurements."<ref name=bbcref1>{{cite news | title=EU gives up on 'metric Britain' | date=[[2007-09-11]] | publisher=[[BBC]] | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6988521.stm | work =BBC News Online | accessdate = 2007-10-12}}</ref>
Although the [[UK]] has officially adopted the metric system, there is no intention to replace the mile on road signs in the near future, owing to the British public's attachment to traditional imperial units of distance, i.e., miles, yards and inches, and the cost of changing speed signs (which could not be replaced during general maintenance, like distance signs, for safety reasons).<ref name=guardian1>{{cite news | author=Andrew Clark | title=Campaign for £80m switch to kilometres | date=[[2006-02-23]] | publisher=[[The Guardian]] | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,1715807,00.html | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref><ref name=bbcref2>{{cite news | title=Call for metric road sign switch | date=[[2006-02-23]] | publisher=[[BBC]] | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4741894.stm | work =BBC News Online | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref> As of [[11 September]] [[2007]], the EU has allowed Britain to continue using the imperial systems. EU commissioner [[Günter Verheugen]] said: "There is not now and never will be any requirement to drop imperial measurements."<ref name=bbcref1>{{cite news | title=EU gives up on 'metric Britain' | date=[[2007-09-11]] | publisher=[[BBC]] | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6988521.stm | work =BBC News Online | accessdate = 2007-10-12}}</ref>


In the US, the ''[[National Highway System Designation Act]] of 1995'' prohibits the use of federal-aid highway funds to convert existing signs or purchase new signs with metric units.<ref name=usgovref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/faq.htm#question17 |title=50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System - Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=2007-10-12 |publisher=US Department of Transport }}</ref> However, the [[Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices]] since 2000 published in both metric and American Customary Units. (See also [[Metrication in the United States]].)
In the US, the ''[[National Highway System Designation Act]] of 1995'' prohibits the use of federal-aid highway funds to convert existing signs or purchase new signs with metric units.<ref name=usgovref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/faq.htm#question17 |title=50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System - Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=2007-10-12 |publisher=US Department of Transport }}</ref> However, the [[Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices]] since 2000 published in both metric and American Customary Units. (See also [[Metrication in the United States]].)


==Unicode symbols==
⚫
==Notes and references==
For the purposes of compatibility with [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and [[Korean language|Korean]] ([[CJK]]) characters, [[Unicode]] has symbols for:
{{reflist}}
* kilometre (㎞) - code 339E
* [[square kilometre]] (㎢) - code 33A2
* [[cubic kilometre]] (㎦) - code 33A6

==References==
⚫
<references/>


==See also==
==See also==
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*[[Orders of magnitude (length)]]
*[[Orders of magnitude (length)]]
*[[Conversion of units]], for comparison with other units of length
*[[Conversion of units]], for comparison with other units of length
*[[Square kilometre]]
*[[Cubic kilometre]]


{{SI units of length}}
{{SI units of length}}

Revision as of 11:37, 14 July 2008

"km" redirects here. For other uses, see KM.

Template:Unit of length A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer, symbol km) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres, the current SI base unit of length. It can be written in scientific notations as 1×10³ m (engineering notation) or 1 E+3 m (exponential notation) — both meaning 1,000 × 1 m. Slang terms for kilometre include "click" (sometimes spelled "klick" or "klik") and "kay" (or "k"). These non-standard terms can also refer to kilometres per hour, which itself is abbreviated as km/h, km h-1, km·h-1 or, informally, kph.

"Kilometrage" may be used in the same way as "mileage".

A corresponding unit of area is the square kilometre and a corresponding unit of volume is the cubic kilometre.

Pronunciation

Although, in English, metric units of measurement are usually pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, as in /ˈkɪl.əˌmiː.tə(r)/, pronunciation of the word "kilometre" with the stress on the second syllable /kɪˈlɒm.ə.tə(r)/ is in common usage (see List of words of disputed pronunciation). The latter pronunciation follows the stress pattern used for the names of measuring instruments, such as barometer, thermometer, tachometer and speedometer. This stress pattern is not commonly used for other metric measurements such as millimetre or centimetre.

Equivalence to other units of length

1 kilometre is equal to:

  • 1,000 metres (1 metre is equal to 0.001 kilometres)
  • about 0.621 statute miles (1 statute mile is equal to 1.609344 kilometres)
    • the formula "multiply by 5 and divide by 8" gives a conversion of 0.625, accurate to 0.6%, which is a useful approximation
  • about 1,094 international yards (1 international yard is equal to 0.0009144 kilometres)
  • about 3,281 feet (1 foot is equal to 0.0003048 kilometres)
  • exactly 0.00000000000010570008340246153 Light Years (1 light year is equal to about 9.5 trillion kilometers)

International usage

The United Kingdom and the United States are the only two developed countries that have not changed their road signs from miles to kilometres.

Although the UK has officially adopted the metric system, there is no intention to replace the mile on road signs in the near future, owing to the British public's attachment to traditional imperial units of distance, i.e., miles, yards and inches, and the cost of changing speed signs (which could not be replaced during general maintenance, like distance signs, for safety reasons).[1][2] As of 11 September 2007, the EU has allowed Britain to continue using the imperial systems. EU commissioner Günter Verheugen said: "There is not now and never will be any requirement to drop imperial measurements."[3]

In the US, the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 prohibits the use of federal-aid highway funds to convert existing signs or purchase new signs with metric units.[4] However, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices since 2000 published in both metric and American Customary Units. (See also Metrication in the United States.)

Unicode symbols

For the purposes of compatibility with Chinese, Japanese and Korean (CJK) characters, Unicode has symbols for:

References

  1. ^ Andrew Clark (2006-02-23). "Campaign for £80m switch to kilometres". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Call for metric road sign switch". BBC News Online. BBC. 2006-02-23. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "EU gives up on 'metric Britain'". BBC News Online. BBC. 2007-09-11. Retrieved 2007-10-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System - Frequently Asked Questions". US Department of Transport. Retrieved 2007-10-12.

See also

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