Made to measure
SPACE AROUND US. It is easy to see how much IS SPREAD OUT ALL pace, or how space there is between our steps when we take a on our two hand much space there is between the ends of the fingers were based on when we stretch out our arms. Early units of length feet, and thumb spans, Measur space became important when people to divide the into fields. Farmers to sure they had as much land as they were entitled to. At first, people were happy to pace out the sides of a field. Then they gradually became more fussy, and the unit: length had to be so that the mer with short legs farr up less land than the farmer with long legs. The standardized units were still based on the dimensions of a human However, one particular person's measurements, usually those of the King or Emperor, were made into rulers representing the standard length. Copies would be made for general use. Later, standards were based on the dimensions of the Earth. Even astronomers use units that are based on the sizes of relatively nearby things. They measure distances across the Solar System in terms of the astronomical unit, which is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun.