Straightedge or folding ruler used to physically measure lengths
A meterstick divided into 1,000 mm and labeled with 100 cm
A
meterstick
,
metrestick
,
[1]
or
yardstick
[2]
is either a
straightedge
or foldable
ruler
used to
measure
length
, and is especially common in the
construction
industry. They are often made of
wood
or
plastic
, and often have metal or plastic joints so that they can be folded together. Normal length of a meterstick made for the international market is either one or two meters, while a yardstick made for the U.S. market is typically one yard (3
feet
or 0.9144
meters
) long.
Metersticks are usually divided with lines for each millimeter (1000 per meter) and numerical markings per centimeter (100 per meter), with numbers either in centi- or millimeter. Yardsticks are most often marked with a scale in inches, but sometimes also feature marks for foot increments. Hybrid sticks with more than one measurement system also exist, most notably those which have
metric measurements
on one side and
U.S. customary units
on the other side (or both on the same side). The "tumstock" (literally
"thumbstick"
, meaning "inch-stick") invented in 1883 by the Swedish engineer Karl-Hilmer Johansson Kollen was the first such hybrid stick,
[
citation needed
]
and was developed with the goal to help Sweden convert to the metric system.
Construction
[
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]
Metersticks are often thin and rectangular, and made of wood or metal. Metal ones are often backed with a 'grippy' material, such as cork, to improve friction. They are relatively cheap, with most wood models costing under US$5.
Measurements
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]
Two wooden yardsticks with brass ends, in inches and division of yard for half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth
A folding meterstick carpenter's
ruler
with
millimeter
divisions and numbers in
centimeters
. Fully extended it measures 2 meters.
In countries in which the metric system is used, the scale typically contains only a metric scale. The scale marks every millimetre with every 5th millimetre marked by a slightly longer line. Every centimetre is marked with an even longer line and a numeric label. Every 10th centimetre is usually predominantly marked. They might be referred to as yardsticks, metersticks or "inch sticks".
In the United States, the marking is usually in
customary units
(three
feet
3
+
3
⁄
8
inches with
inch
and fractional inch). Hybrid mesures bearing customary markings on one side and metric units on the other also exist and are sometimes referred to as yardsticks, metersticks or "meter rulers". The spelling meter vs metre varies by country.
Although not used as often, metersticks with only a metric scale can be found in the United States. For example, they are common in schools where there is a desire for students to become familiar with metric units.
[3]
They may also be used in American science labs.
The folding carpenters'
rulers
used in
Scandinavia
are sometimes equipped with double measurements, metric and imperial on both sides, also functioning as a handy conversion table, accounting for its Scandinavian term: Tommestokk/tumstock (
thumb (inch) stick
),
[4]
a term with the same meaning that is also used in
Dutch
: duimstok. Metric only carpenter's rulers are however common.
Application
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]
The meterstick is usually employed for work on a medium scale; larger than desktop work on paper, yet smaller than large scale infrastructure work, where tape measures or longer
measuring rods
are used. Typical applications of metersticks are for building
furniture
,
vehicles
and
houses
. Modern carpenters' metersticks are usually made to be folded for ease of transport.
Metersticks may be used as pointing devices for posters and projections. Metersticks are also used as spars to make wings for remote controlled
model aircraft
that are made from
corrugated plastic
.
Metre sticks have also been used as a method of
corporal punishment
in schools in the United Kingdom used to slap the palms of students to bring them in order.
References
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]
External links
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]