ByFour inches. It may not seem like much at first glance, but when you take a closer look, you realize that 4 inches is the perfect size for many common objects we use every day.
To start, let’s visualize exactly how long four inches is. Four inches is about the width of a credit card or the diameter of a typical cupcake. It’s the length of a standard AA battery or the height of a matchbox. See, more than just a number, 4 inches has real meaning in our world.
In metric units, 4 inches equals roughly 10 centimeters or 0.1 meters. It’s about the length of your thumb or the size of a lemon. Even in the metric system, four inches retains its importance.
Now let’s look at 10 everyday items that share this significant size of around 4 inches.
10 everyday items That Are 4 Inches Long
1. Four Small Paper Clips
Let’s start with something very small – paper clips! The standard size for small paper clips that you’d find on an office desk is about 1 inch long.
So four of these linked together to get you to a length of around 4 inches. These miniature metal fasteners that keep papers bundled together measure 1-inch wire with a 0.3-inch coil or loop.
They’ve been around since the late 1800s and are still used every day in offices and schools.
2. Two Debit Cards
A standard debit card is another everyday item that aligns with the 4 inches measurements. Debit cards used worldwide as payment in stores and ATMs are commonly about 2.125 inches long or 54 millimeters.
Two of these cards lined up end to end get you a length right around 4 inches. Debit cards must fit neatly into wallets and purses while still being easy to swipe or insert at payment terminals.
So the size of 2 inches is just about right for portability and functionality. It’s easy to see that two of these vital pieces of plastic add up to around 4 inches.
3. Four Bottle Tops
Like those found on soda, water, and other beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps tend to measure around 1 inch in diameter.
Lining up four bottle caps gets you to the 4 inches mark. Bottle caps are ubiquitous and make a great improvised measuring tool.
So next time you need 4 quick inches, look no further than your bottle cap collection.
4. Seven AA Batteries
AA batteries are another very common item that aligns with the 4 inches measurement. AA batteries measure 50 millimeters or just under 2 inches long.
Therefore, seven AA batteries lined up end to end will get you to a length of around 4 inches. These batteries power countless devices, including flashlights, TV remotes, toys, and portable radios.
The AA battery was developed in 1907 and remains one of the most widely used standard-size batteries today. If you’ve ever wondered how many it would take to span 4 inches, now you know it’s seven AA batteries.
5. Half a Standard Brick
Moving on to larger objects, let’s talk about bricks used to construct buildings, walls, patios and other structures.
The standard brick size used in the United States is 2-1/4 inches x 3-3/4 inches x 8 inches. With a width of 2-1/4 inches, half of a brick theoretically would measure around 4 inches across.
Bricks have been used in construction for thousands of years and are a foundational building material today.
6. Half a Volleyball
From small objects to larger spherical objects, let’s look at volleyballs. Regulation-size volleyballs typically have a circumference between 65-67 cm which translates to a diameter of approximately 21-22 cm or 8-9 inches.
Taking half the diameter of a volleyball yields a length of around 4 inches. Volleyballs can be split in half through the equator into two hemispheres.
So bisecting a volleyball will result in two halves of a ball measuring about 4 inches deep. A fun way to get something spherical that is 4 inches!
7. Four US Quarters
Moving back to some common everyday objects, let’s look at coins. A US quarter has a diameter of 0.955 inches and a thickness of 1.75 mm. Lining up four quarters gets you to the right length around 4 inches. Quarters are worth 25 cents and were first minted in 1796.
These handy coins can be used for vending machines, parking meters, laundry facilities, and other daily uses.
Now you’ll know that grabbing four quarters out of your pocket will get you just over 4 inches in length.
See More: 13 Common Things That Are 4.5 Inches Long
8. 2 Golf Tees
If you’re looking for items around 4 inches in sports equipment, look no further than golf tees. Golf tees are spikes that hold the golf ball off the ground when setting up shots at the driving range or tee box.
Standard-size golf tees are made of wood or plastic and measure 2 1/4 inches long. Therefore, two golf tees lined up end to end make a length of about 4 inches.
Golf tees are made in this size to allow just the right height for placing a golf ball on the tee when teeing off. A pair of these items from the world of golf gets you to 4 inches.
9. An Average Hand Width
Moving on to parts of the human body, the average width of a human adult hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky finger spans about 4 inches.
Hands come in many sizes depending on age, gender, and overall body size, but on average the hand measures right around 4 inches wide.
Two cupped hands placed tip to tip would measure around 4 inches wide. The human hand contains 27 bones and is unique to humans compared to other mammals. This key body part can quickly reference the 4-inch measurement.
10. Two Standard Playing Cards
Finally, a straightforward way to get a quick 4 inches length is with a standard deck of playing cards. Cards used for poker, rummy, or solitaire games measure 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.
Two of these versatile playing cards lined up end to end make a length of around 4 inches. Next time you want a convenient 4 inches measuring tool, grab a couple of cards from the deck for a precise match.
Playing cards have been used in games for centuries and double as an impromptu measuring device in a pinch.
Conclusion
While we don’t frequently think about or reference items in terms of inches, there are quite a few everyday objects and materials that match up with the 4-inch length.
Many items we encounter regularly align with this measurement, from office supplies like paper clips to coins, batteries, and bricks. Even parts of the human hand and popular sports equipment work to this length.
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