Measurements
Measurements of distance, weight, liquid volume, and temperature are neither universal nor standardized on Mythania. However, in the past century, as industry grows and global commerce continues to rise, a general system of measurement based on the system used by the Imperial Republic, has become the de facto standard. It is true, however, that in scientific circles the Maradian decimetric system was preferred for its mathematical simplification, being that all scales are based on units of 10, 100, or 1000. Today a new decimetric system has been developed, known as the New Standard Scale (as opposed to the "old scale"). However, the New Standard Scale has yet to be accepted beyond its application in science and engineering.
Note: Although measurements may bear English names such as "foot" or "inch" or "pound", it should be understood that these are not 100% equivalent to the same scale on Mythania. Conversions to English scale will be noted.
Distance
In the standard scale, all distances are measured in terms of inches, feet, and miles. In addition to the standard terms, there are three additional non-standard terms which have been largely adopted. These are paces, strides, fathoms, and leagues.Before Marada, most measurements were based on simple measurements of hand spans (about 5 inches), arm lengths (such as the cubit, which was around 15 inches), strides (50 to 60 inches), rods (15 to 20 feet), and so forth. Near the end of the Age of Elinica, and into the Maradian period, the Maradian decimetric system standardized all lengths and distances according to a base unit known as the var. The var was a relatively arbitrary length, based on an existing Elincian unit, but it was equivalent to 50 inches.
Maradian Scale
1 milivar = 1/1000th of a var
1 centivar = 10 milivars, or 1/2 of an inch
1 var = 100 centivars, or 50 inches
1 decavar = 10 vars, or 500 inches
1 kilovar = 1000 vars, or 4/5th of a mile
After the fall of Marada and the collapse of civilization, the Maradian system was completely abandoned. The standard scale developed before and during the time of the Imperial Republic and continues to be used to this day. For this reason, the standard scale may also be known as the Imperial scale.
Standard Scale
1 inch = 1 inch (length of the thumb's first segment)
1 foot = 12 inches (1 English foot)
1 pace = 3 feet or 36 inches (3 English feet)
1 stride = 2 paces, 6 feet, or 72 inches
1 fathom = 2 paces, 6 feet, or 72 inches
1 furlong = 200 paces or 100 strides (1/10th of a mile)
1 mile = 6000 feet, 2000 paces, or 1000 strides
1 league = 5000 paces, 2500 strides, or 2.5 miles
Thus, a mile is about 13.5% longer than an English mile (and is approximately 1 nautical mile). The world of Mythania is 20,370 miles in circumference, which is equal to 23,150 English miles in circumference (or 93% of Earth's size).
A walking speed of 3 miles per hour is 100 paces per minute. However, because a Mythanian mile is about 13.5% longer than an English mile, a speed of 30 miles per hour (mph) is roughly 34 mph by English measuring, but this is not a significant enough difference to be notable.
Recently, a new standard scale of measuring length and distance has begun to gain favor in the scientific community, as well as in several academies. First proposed at the Academy of Valaria in 1008 CA, the New Standard Scale of Measurement seeks to replace the Imperial Scale with a metric scale that, unlike the Maradian scale, retains some level of compatibility and ease of conversion with the old scale.
New Standard
1 ota = 1/10th of a span, or 0.72 inches
1 span = 1/10th of a strat, or 10 otas, or 7.2 inches
1 strat = 10 spans, or 1 old system stide, or 6 feet
1 decastrat = 10 strats, or 1 old system furlong
1 kilostrat = 1000 strats, or 1 old system mile
In the new system, the base unit of measurement is the "strat" which equals 6 feet, or 72 inches, which is also equal to 1 stride or 1 fathom. In addition, 1 kilostrat is exactly equal to 1 mile (6000 feet). The strat is divided into 10 spans (equal to 7.2 inches), and each span can be divided into 10 otas. In this system, the average human male is about 11.5 spans tall, or 115 otas (69 inches).
Despite its simplicity, the New Standard Scale has yet to catch on with the general population of either Celaphanian or Tarrona. However, it has seen a remarkable acceptance in areas of science, mathematics, and engineering. Because of its relative compatibility with the old scale, the New Standard Scale will very likely become common place within the next few decades.
Weight
All standard scale values for weight are measured in pounds or tons. For very light wights, grains are sometimes used.Standard Weight
1 grain = 1/100th of an ounce
1 ounce = 100 grains, or 1/16th of a pound
1 pound = 16 ounces, 1600 grains
1 stone = 12.5 pounds or 200 ounces
1 hundredweight = 100 pounds, or 8 stones
1 ton = 2000 pounds
As with the New Standard Scale for length, some effort have been made to establish a New Standard Scale for weight as well.
New Standard
1 dram = 0.032 ounces, or 3.2 gains
1 kilodram = 1000 drams, or 2 old pound
1 ton = 1000 kilodram, or 1 old tons
Like the New Standard Scale for length, the new Standard Scale for weight maintains some compatibility and easy conversion from the old scale. The base unit is the "dram", which is about 3.2 grains (0.032 ounces). There are 1000 drams in a kilodram, and 1000 kilodrams in a ton (which is equal to an old system ton). Thus, a 10 ounce ball would weigh 312 drams and a 180 pound man would 90 kilodrams. However, the New Standard Scale of weight has yet to see any large scale acceptance beyond its application in science and engineering.
Liquid Volume
Measurements of liquid volume have varied wildly from country to country, but the one and only universal measurement is the gallon. In addition to the gallon there are also quarts (1/4th of a gallon), pints (1/8th of a gallon), and gills (1/4th of a pint).Standard Volume
1 gill = 1/4th of a pint
1 pint = 1 pound of water
1 quart = 2 pints, or 2 pounds of water
1 gallon = 8 pints, 8 pounds of water
1 liquid ton = 250 gallons, or 2000 pounds of water
As with the New Standard Scale for length and weight, there is also a New Standard Scale for volume based on a unit call the "litron", which is the volume of 1 kilodram of water (which is equal to 1 quart).
Standard Volume
1 millilitron = 1/1000th of a litron
1 litron = 1 kilodram of water, or 1 quart
1 kilolitron = 1000 litrons, or 1 ton of water
However, the New Standard Scale of volume has yet to see any large scale acceptance beyond its application in science and engineering.
Temperature
For a considerable period of time, temperature was measured in terms of "it's cold", "it's hot", "it's very cold", "it's very hot", or "it's nice". The ancient Maradians, with their science and technology, devised a new means to measure temperature using quicksilver thermometers and along with various metal-alloy thermometers. These thermometers were graduated in "degrees of temperature", known as the thermetric scale, which set 0 degrees at the freezing point of water, 100 at human body temperature, and 270 degrees as the boiling point of water. Several others systems do exist, but in recent years the thermetric scale has returned as the chief temperature measurement scale used on most thermometers and similar instruments.0 degrees = freezing point of water (32 F or 0 C)
100 degrees = human body temp (98.6 or 37 C)
To convert Fahrenheit (F) to thermetric degrees (T), simply use this formula: T = 1.5 x (F - 32), or to convert to Fahrenheit: F = (T / 1.5) + 32
Thus,
70 degrees F = 57 thermetric degrees
100 degrees F = 102 thermetric degrees
212 degrees F = 270 thermetric degrees
The comfortable temperature range is generally held to be between 55 and 60 thermetric degrees.