smoot

smoot. A smoot is a non-standard, humorous unit of length, defined as equal to five feet and seven inches (approximately 1.702 meters). Its origin traces to a 1958 Massachusetts Institute of Technology fraternity prank involving Oliver R. Smoot, who was used as a physical measuring stick to survey the Harvard Bridge connecting Boston and Cambridge. The unit has since achieved lasting recognition, being used in certain technical fields and embraced as a part of local and scientific folklore.

Definition and origin

The smoot is precisely defined as the height of Oliver R. Smoot, a pledge of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in October 1958. As part of an initiation task, his fraternity brothers used his body to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge over the Charles River. Lying down repeatedly, they determined the bridge was 364.4 smoots long, plus or minus one ear. The markings, initially painted in tempera, became a permanent feature of the bridge, with the Massachusetts Department of Public Works later acknowledging the unit by repainting the markings during renovations. The event is commemorated annually by the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter at MIT.

Use as a unit of measurement

Beyond its prank origins, the smoot has seen practical application in various technical and cartographic contexts. The Google Earth and Google Calculator applications included the smoot as an optional unit of measurement for distance, a feature implemented by engineers with ties to MIT. Furthermore, the Harvard Bridge itself is officially marked with smoot increments, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation references these markings. In the realm of wavelengths for certain types of electromagnetic waves, some engineers and scientists within the IEEE community have informally used the smoot for illustrative comparisons, particularly in discussions involving the MIT Radiation Laboratory and related research history.

Cultural significance

The smoot holds a unique place as a symbol of MIT ingenuity and collegiate humor, bridging the gap between a sophomoric prank and institutional recognition. Its adoption by official entities like the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and technology giants like Google underscores its cultural resonance. The unit is often cited in discussions about unconventional measurements, the history of measurement systems, and Boston lore. It is celebrated during events like the MIT Mystery Hunt and is a point of pride for alumni of Lambda Chi Alpha, representing a lasting legacy of a specific 1958 event that transcended its original context.

In popular culture

References to the smoot appear across various media, cementing its status in popular culture. It has been featured in episodes of television series such as The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory, often in contexts related to geek culture or Boston. The story of its creation was recounted in publications like The Boston Globe and MIT Technology Review. Furthermore, the term is used in puzzle hunts like the MIT Mystery Hunt and has been referenced in works by authors such as Neal Stephenson. The Google implementation ensured the unit reached a global audience, making it a frequent trivia subject regarding unusual Units of measurement.

Related units and comparisons

The smoot exists within a tradition of anthropic and humorous units based on human dimensions, such as the Cubit, the foot, and the Fathom. For scale, one smoot is roughly equivalent to 1.7 meters, 0.00106 miles, or 67 inches. It is shorter than the British yard but longer than the Parisian toise. In a scientific context, 10 smoots is approximately the wavelength of a microwave in the S band, and the Harvard Bridge' length of 364.4 smoots compares to about 0.2 nautical miles or one-fifth the length of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Category:Units of length Category:Humour Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology Category:Customary units of measurement in the United States