MCQ Detailed View

A fathom is a traditional unit of length that is primarily used to measure the depth of water in nautical and maritime contexts. One fathom is equal to 6 feet, which is approximately 1.8288 meters. The unit has been widely used by sailors and divers to describe how deep the water is below the surface.

The origin of the term comes from an old English word faethm, which means "outstretched arms." Historically, the unit was based on the span of a person’s outstretched arms, which was roughly six feet in length. Over time, it was standardized to exactly 6 feet.

The fathom is particularly important in navigation and oceanography. Before modern digital depth measurement instruments were invented, sailors used a weighted rope marked at fathom intervals to check the depth of water. This practice was called “heaving the lead.”

Even today, nautical charts often express water depths in fathoms, especially in regions where traditional maritime practices are preserved. For example, a depth of 10 fathoms means 60 feet of water.

While the metric system is commonly used around the world, the fathom remains a practical and recognizable unit for seafarers, fishermen, and divers. It also appears in literature and history related to the sea.

In Physics and general science, understanding such units is part of measurement systems. Converting between units like fathoms, feet, and meters helps students and professionals handle scientific and practical problems accurately.

To summarize:

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  1 fathom = 6 feet = 72 inches ≈ 1.8288 meters

  
  


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  Still used in maritime depth measurement

  
  


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  Based on the idea of arm span in old measurement systems

  
  

Thus, the correct answer is 6 feet.