Interesting Numbers in The Metric System
Here are some interesting numbers in the Metric System. Also learn about Metric Measurements and Common Metric Units:
| Quantity | Approximate Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Earth to Sun | 150 000 000 km | 1.5 x 108 km in Scientific Notation Varies over the year |
| Distance from Earth to Moon | 385 000 km | Varies from 363 000 to 405 000 as the Moon follows an elliptical orbit around Earth |
| Circumference of Earth | 40 000 km measured around the equator | This inspired the original definition of the kilometer |
| Height of geostationary satellite | 35 800 km | |
| Height of Mount Everest | 8849 m | Earth's highest mountain, but it is still growing due to tectonic activity |
| Speed of light (in vacuum) | 300 000 000 m/s | 3 x 108 m/s in Scientific Notation More accurately: 299 792 458 m/s |
| Speed of sound (in air) | 340 m/s | Travels faster in warm air and even faster in water or solids |
| Speed of Earth around Sun | 30 000 m/s | 30 km per second, 2.6 million km every day |
| Earth's gravity | 9.8 m/s2 | Varies by location |
| Freezing point of water | 0°C | Varies with pressure |
| Human body temperature | 37°C | Varies by person, site and health |
| Boiling point of water | 100°C | Varies with pressure |
| Atmospheric pressure | 100 kPa | Varies with weather and height |
| Density of water | 1 g/cm3 (= 1 kg per liter) |
Varies with temperature and pressure |
| Density of rock | 3 g/cm3 | Varies a lot based on type of rock |
| Density of gold | 19.3 g/cm3 | One of the densest metals: real gold feels surprisingly heavy |
| Age of the Universe | 13.7 billion years | |
| Age of Earth | 4.5 billion years |