What Is This Tool?
This converter changes values measured in Earth's polar radius—a geodetic parameter defining the distance from Earth's center to its poles—into furlongs (US survey), a traditional length unit used in American historical land surveys and other specialized fields.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the value in Earth's polar radius you wish to convert
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Select 'furlong (US survey)' as the target unit
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent length in furlongs
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Use the output to understand large geodetic distances in historical surveying terms
Key Features
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Converts large geodetic lengths into traditional U.S. surveying units
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Accurate translation between Earth's polar radius and furlong (US survey)
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Helpful for interpreting historical land records and cadastral descriptions
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Supports applications in geodesy, cartography, GPS mapping, and satellite studies
Examples
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2 Earth's polar radius equals 63,198.563255 furlong (US survey)
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0.5 Earth's polar radius equals 15,799.6408138 furlong (US survey)
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Convert any value by multiplying it by 31,599.281627525 to get furlongs
Common Use Cases
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Translating geodetic measurements into units used in US cadastral surveys
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Interpreting and converting older maps, deeds, and survey records
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Applying the furlong unit for traditional horse racing distances and land descriptions
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Supporting satellite orbit modelling and Earth shape studies through unit conversions
Tips & Best Practices
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Double-check the units selected before conversion for accuracy
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Use this tool primarily for specialized scientific or historical analysis
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Understand that furlongs are mostly relevant in legacy land surveying contexts
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Reference conversion results to interpret historical maps or cadastral data effectively
Limitations
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The furlong (US survey) is a non-SI historical unit with limited modern application
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Earth's polar radius represents a very large length, so this conversion suits specialized fields
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Conversions are not typically used for everyday measurements or common applications
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Earth's polar radius used for?
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It defines the distance from Earth's center to the geographic poles and is used in geodetic reference ellipsoids, satellite orbit modelling, and GPS mapping.
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Why convert Earth's polar radius to furlong (US survey)?
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Converting to furlongs helps translate large geodetic distances into units familiar in historical U.S. land surveys and cadastral documentation.
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Is the furlong (US survey) still commonly used?
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No, it is mostly a historical unit now, primarily used in interpreting older land surveys and legal descriptions.
Key Terminology
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Earth's Polar Radius
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The distance from Earth's center to the mean geographic pole along the rotation axis, equivalent to the semi-minor axis in geodetic ellipsoids like WGS84.
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Furlong (US Survey)
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A historical non-SI unit of length equal to 660 US survey feet, used in traditional U.S. surveying and legal land descriptions.
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Geodetic Reference Ellipsoid
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A mathematically defined surface approximating Earth's shape used in mapping, GPS, and satellite studies.