Weird Units Converter

What is a Weird Units Converter?

A Weird Units Converter is a fun and educational tool that allows you to translate measurements between historical, obscure, or humorous units. Before the worldwide standardization of the metric system (SI), cultures across the globe developed countless local and often eccentric ways to measure the world around them. This calculator brings some of those units to life, letting you convert from a Furlong to a Barleycorn or see how many Smoots are in a Sheppey. It's a fascinating glimpse into the history of measurement.

Some of the units in our converter include:

• Furlong: A measure of distance, traditionally one-eighth of a mile, often used in horse racing.
• Fortnight: A period of two weeks, or 14 days.
• Smoot: A famously non-standard unit of length created at MIT, equal to the height of Oliver R. Smoot.
• Donkeypower: A humorous take on horsepower, often cited as about one-third of a horsepower.
• Sheppey: The distance at which sheep remain picturesque, defined as about 7/8ths of a mile.

How to Use the Weird Units Converter

Explore the history of measurement with our simple converter.

1. Enter Value: Input the number you want to convert.
2. Select 'From' and 'To' Units: Choose your starting and ending units from the dropdown menus. The calculator will only allow conversions between compatible types (e.g., length to length).
3. View the Result: The converted value will appear instantly.

The Conversion Logic

The calculator works by converting every unit to a standard SI base unit (like meters, seconds, or watts) and then converting it back to the target unit. This ensures accuracy even between the most obscure units.

For example, to convert Furlongs to Smoots:

$$ \text{Result in Smoots} = \frac{\text{Value in Furlongs} \times 201.168 \text{ (m/furlong)}}{1.7 \text{ (m/smoot)}} $$

Practical Example: Fun with Measurement

Imagine you're reading a historical novel that mentions a journey of 10 furlongs. You want to know how long that is in a more modern, albeit still weird, unit like Smoots.

• Known Value: 10 Furlongs
• Using the calculator:
  1. Enter "10" in the value field.
  2. Select "Furlong" as the 'From' unit and "Smoot" as the 'To' unit.
• Result: The calculator will show that 10 furlongs is equal to approximately 1183.34 Smoots.

While not practical for scientific work, this kind of conversion is a fun way to engage with history and the evolution of science. For standard, everyday conversions, you can use our Length Converter or Time Unit Converter.

Why Explore Obscure Units?

• Historical Insight: They reveal how past societies interacted with their world and what they valued measuring.
• Educational Fun: It's an engaging way to teach the principles of unit conversion and standardization.
• Cultural Context: Units like the Sheppey or Smoot are tied to specific places and stories, adding a layer of culture to the science of metrology.

To learn more about the history of measurement, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a fascinating overview. For a catalog of more unusual units, Russ Rowlett's How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement is a comprehensive resource.