Convert Exameter (Em) to Chain (ch) instantly.
About these units
Exameter (Em)
An exameter, equal to 10¹⁸ meters, reaches into the interstellar and even intergalactic scale. It is useful for describing the dimensions of star clusters, distances between major astronomical features, or large-scale cosmological structures. Only a handful of physical phenomena require expression in exameters, and even then, astronomers typically prefer parsecs or light-years. The unit sees more use in theoretical physics, cosmology, and data modeling where SI uniformity is necessary. For example, mathematical simulations of the universe's evolution may employ exameters in their internal computations. Although too large for everyday use, the exameter highlights the vastness of the universe and the adaptability of the metric system to describe phenomena across incomprehensible scales.
Chain (ch)
A chain is equal to 66 feet or 4 rods, and it was standardized by surveyor Edmund Gunter in the 17th century. "Gunter's chain," consisting of 100 metal links, became the backbone of land surveying in the English-speaking world for centuries. Its convenience stems from simple arithmetic: 10 square chains make an acre, making land area calculations straightforward. Railroads, farmland, and city parcels across the United States and the Commonwealth nations were once laid out using chains, so the unit appears in countless historical records. Even today, some legal property descriptions still reference chain-based measurements, making the unit relevant for modern surveyors who interpret old maps. Although high-precision digital equipment has replaced physical chains, the unit's structural role in land division ensures its lasting importance.