A Dictionary of Units of Measurement

When does a ton weigh just over an ounce? How much alcohol is in a methuselah? And what is the diameter of a gnat's eye, anyway? These and other questions are answered by the Dictionary of Units of Measurement, at http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/ .

This site is put together by Russ Rowlett, the Director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The best way to explore this page in my opinion is to browse the alphabetical index at the top of the page.

Pick a letter and you'll get a list of measurements; H, for example, goes from h to hyl. Each listing has an explanation of the measurement and where it's used. There's some cross-linking but not so much that everything becomes unwieldy. Back on the front page you'll get a list of the most recent additions, links to commentary and explanation, and an index of tables and scales (now you too can understand hat sizes all over the world!) A very interesting browse.

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