The Long and the Short of It: How We Came to Measure Our World

by Graeme Donald and Mevlüde Betül Sarta

Book Overview

We've always measured the world around us, from how big things are, to how fast they go, how much they're worth, and practically everything in between. But who decided how we do it, and why? This book explores the origins and evolution of a huge variety of different units of measurement. It answers such questions as: Why do we measure time in units of 60? How do you determine the height of a mountain when sea level keeps changing? Why did the length...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1782436286
• ISBN13: 9781782436287
• Release Date: September 2017
• Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 7.9"