Convert Boring Units to Real Objects

Martin Brinkmann
May 30, 2008
Updated • Dec 14, 2012
Internet
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1000 Kilogram are 1.3 cows, 5.6 female lions or 1 shire horse while 100000 kilogram equal 18 male African elephants and 7.1 Big Bens. The website Sensible Units (via Genbeta) converts boring units like Kilogram, Meters, Miles or Pounds into real world objects. There is obviously no real scientific value behind the calculations but it is still interesting to discover how some units convert into real objects.

Currently only units of length and mass are converted into real objects but the developers promise to add additional units in future versions. The conversions are displayed immediately on the website which means everything takes place on the same page. The script lets you know if it cannot find any real world object of that size; Don't give up at that point, you might be surprised that it will most likely find objects for larger values again.

Pure entertainment, what do you think?

Update: The service is no longer available and the page returns a parked domain full of ads and nothing else. While I can't provide you with a similar service that converts units into "real world" units, you may be interested in conversion options.

What you can use instead is for instance the Wolfram Alpha search engine which provides you with conversion capabilities.  Just enter a unit that you are interested in and you are presented with a list of units the entered unit has been automatically converted to. If you enter kilogram, you get unit conversions in pounds, stone and gram for instance on the results page.

You also get a list of corresponding quantities, interpretations and other statistical information that you may find useful. As far as kilogram is concerned, you get the median weight of males, females and all human adults as well as the fraction below and above the median level.

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Comments

  1. Obi-Wahn said on May 31, 2008 at 9:43 am
    Reply

    10 Cats? 5 kg a Cat? My Cat is quite a fat Animal but weights ony 3.5 kg.
    But beside this, its fun.

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