Convert Earth's Equatorial Radius (R⊕) to Foot (US Survey) (ft (US)) instantly.
About these units
Earth's Equatorial Radius (R⊕)
The Earth's equatorial radius is approximately 6,378.1 km. This distance represents the radius measured along the equator, where Earth's rotational bulge makes it slightly larger than the polar radius. Geodesists, cartographers, and astronomers use the equatorial radius for mapping, satellite positioning, and calculating gravitational effects. It is fundamental to defining the shape of the Earth as an oblate spheroid rather than a perfect sphere. Precise knowledge of R⊕ enables accurate navigation, climate modeling, and orbital calculations, forming the basis for modern geodesy and Earth observation systems.
Foot (US Survey) (ft (US))
The US Survey Foot is a standardized version of the foot, defined as exactly 1200/3937 meters (~0.30480061 m). It was adopted to maintain continuity with older surveying records when converting to the metric system. Surveyors, engineers, and geographers in the United States used this unit for mapping, cadastral surveys, and infrastructure projects. Its slight difference from the international foot allows historical survey data to align accurately with modern geodetic coordinates. Although the international foot is now more common, the US survey foot remains relevant for interpreting historical survey data and legal property boundaries.