Hand (unit) facts for kids
The hand is a special way to measure how long something is. It's a bit like using a ruler, but it's a very old measurement! Today, people mostly use the "hand" to measure how tall horses are. You'll find it used in places like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Contents
What is a Hand?
A "hand" is a unit of measurement for length. It was first used a very long time ago in ancient Egypt. Back then, it was based on the width of a human hand. Imagine holding your hand flat and measuring across your palm – that's where the idea came from!
How Big is One Hand?
Today, one hand is exactly four inches long. That's about 10.16 centimeters. So, if a horse is 15 hands tall, you would multiply 15 by 4 inches to find its height in inches.
How Do We Write It?
When you see a horse's height, the word "hand" is often shortened. You might see "h" for one hand, or "hh" for more than one hand. For example, a horse might be described as 15 hh.
Measuring Horses
The "hand" is still the main way to measure horses in many English-speaking countries. This tradition has continued for hundreds of years. It helps people easily understand and compare the heights of different horses.
History of the Hand Unit
The idea of using parts of the body to measure things is very old. Ancient Egyptians used their hands, fingers, and even forearms (called a cubit) for measurements. Over time, these measurements became more exact. The "hand" unit became a standard way to measure, especially for animals like horses.
Images for kids
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This ancient cubit rod from Egypt shows how different body parts, like the hand, were used for measuring.
