Length and Height

In geometry, there are three important parameters used to describe shapes length, breadth and height. The distance or measure of something from one end to the other with the help of a length measuring tool is said to be length. There are different units for measuring the length and also there is a use of length in our everyday life. The measure of a person or thing from bottom to top or how tall or high from bottom to an extension to the greatest distance is said to be height.

Length

Length is defined as it’s a measure or extent or distance of something from end to end, to identify the size of an object. The object’s extended dimension or its longest side is its length. For example, the length of the ruler is 15 cm.

The height is sometimes referred to as the length of a particular thing or object. For example, the length of the bridge or track and so on.

Use of Length Measurement in daily life

The knowledge of measurement was important since humans settled from nomadic lifestyles. It is very important to measure certain or a few things in our daily life like distance, time,  and accuracy. By measuring these things we can better understand the world around us. 

Length is one of the common measurements used in everyday life this will tell you how far or close your nearest town or location is, the width of a fridge or other daily life things. There is also the use of length in science to measure the size of the universe, the diameter of an atom etc.

SI Unit of Length

The SI unit measurement of length is meter (m) which is the base unit of length. Value in some other units are :

• 1 m = 100 cm
• 1 m = 1000 mm
• 1 m = 0.001 km
• 1 m = 39.37 inches
• 1 m = 1.09361 yards
• 1 m = 3.28 feet

Tools to Measure Length

There are various tools to measure the length –

• Ruler
• Tapes
• Yardsticks
• Vernier callipers
• Meter sticks
• Feet / Foot scale 

Height

In simple words, we can say ‘the top of something’. It’s a vertical measure or distance from top to bottom or top to the base of the object. It is measured in cm, inches, and metres.

It is a measure of vertical extent, vertical distance, or vertical position. For example, the height of the building is 50 cm, the height of the almirah, the height of the fridge etc. from bottom to top vertically.

Tools to Measure Height

Different types of tools are used to measure a different variety of heights like-

• Stadiometer
• Hypsometer
• Clinometer
• Altimeter
• Tapes 

Appropriate Units to Measure Height 

• Height of a person is measured in feet and inches and cm
• Height of a high–rise building is measured in meters or feet
• Height of a mountain peak is measured in meters or feet
• Height of a mountain peak is measured in meters or feet

Length and Height: Difference 

1. Length denotes the shape of something or how long an object is and whereas height denotes the extension or how high up an object is from top to bottom.
2. Length is measured horizontally whereas height is measured vertically.
3. Length is the most extended dimension of the object whereas, height is a dimension that would be up or high in ordinary orientation.
4. Length is measured along X axis the horizontal side of something, whereas height is measured along Y axis on the vertical side of something.
5. Length is the longest facet of the object, whereas height is the extended or high up facet of an object.
6. Length is applied to one-dimensional objects, whereas height is not applicable to one-dimensional objects.

Length and Height: Similarities

1. Both the types of measurements of length and height are linear types of measurement
2. They both are measured in the units of distance
3. Both are expressed in terms of feet, inches, metres, yards 

Conclusion

Length is basically used to measure how long the object is but height is used to measure how tall the object is. So, we can say both length and height are used for measurement and have a few similarities and differences which have been discussed above. The knowledge of measurement was important since humans settled from nomadic lifestyles. It is very important to measure certain or a few things in our daily life like distance, time,  and accuracy. By measuring these things we can better understand the world around us. 

It is clear that both are two different concepts of geometry. The position of the object plays a crucial role in determining the length and height because the measurement changes with the change in position. The vertical and horizontal two positions of an object are the length and height of an object in measurement.