The etymological origin of the term millimeter is the first thing we are going to determine. In this case, we have to establish that it is the result of the union of two lexical components from different languages. Thus, it is the fruit of adding:
-The Latin term “mille”, which means “one thousand”.
-The Greek noun “metron”, which can be translated as “measure”.
Among the units of length we find the millimeter , which is equivalent to one thousandth of a meter . Its symbol is mm .
If we divide 1 meter into 1,000 parts , therefore, we will obtain 1,000 millimeters . In other words: in 1 meter there are 1,000 millimeters (or 100 centimeters , also equivalent to 10 decimeters )
The millimeter, in short, is a submultiple of the meter , the main unit of length in the International System of Units . The appropriateness of its use or the use of another submultiple or multiple depends on the context .
Take the case of the height of a human being . Because most adults measure more than 1.50 meters , using millimeters is not useful since it would be necessary to resort to figures that are too large. It is easier to express that a man is 1.79 meters tall instead of saying that he is 1,790 millimeters tall.
In other areas, however, precision requires the use of millimeters. The caliber of firearms , for example, is usually expressed in millimeters. This is the internal diameter of the barrel with respect to the length of the projectile used. Thus we can find the 9 millimeter pistols , used by police forces.
To measure precipitation , meanwhile, millimeters are also used. The layer of water that forms with each rain reaches a certain thickness that is expressed in millimeters. The rain gauge is the device that allows collecting water from precipitation and measuring it: the simplest are cylindrical containers that display a graduated scale in millimeters for recording the precipitated amount.
In addition to the above, we must not forget that millimeters are those used in so-called mechanical manufacturing. Exactly they are used when making plans for all types of parts and elements that require enormous precision.
However, we cannot ignore the existence of the so-called square millimeter. This is a unit of surface area that is equivalent to one millionth of the known square meter. That is, 1 square meter is equal to 1,000,000 square millimeters. It is represented by the following abbreviation: mm2.
In the same way, there is also the cubic millimeter. This, for its part, is a unit of volume and is equivalent to one billionth of a cubic meter. Its abbreviation in this case is mm3.
Finally, we must not overlook that “A millimeter from you” is the title of a novel written by Christina Hortet. It was published in 2019 and has as its protagonist a girl who stands out for her rebellion. However, he will find himself on his way with someone who will try to make him obey the rules even using the most unique methods.