Gallons
Abbreviation/Symbol:
gal
Worldwide use:
Gallons are a unit of measurement commonly used in the United States, United Kingdom and a few other countries, particularly for measuring volume of liquids such as gasoline, milk, and water. However, the use of gallons is not as widespread globally as the metric system, which is more commonly used in most countries around the world.
Definition:
The US liquid gallon is equivalent to 231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters.
The US dry gallon is defined as 1/8th of a US bushel, which is equivalent to 4.4048838 liters.
The UK gallon is defined as 4.54609 liters, which is equivalent to approximately 1.20095 US liquid gallons.
Origin:
The gallon is a unit of measurement used to quantify volume in both the imperial and US customary systems. The origin of the gallon can be traced back to medieval England, where it was initially defined as the volume of eight pounds of wheat. This early definition highlights the practical nature of the gallon, as it was based on a common commodity that was easily accessible and widely used for trade and commerce.
Usage context:
Gallons are a commonly used unit of measurement for volume in various contexts, particularly in the United States and some other countries that have not fully adopted the metric system. In the US, gallons are used to measure the volume of liquids such as gasoline, milk, and water. For example, when purchasing gasoline for a car, the amount is often measured and priced in gallons. In the agricultural sector, gallons are used to measure the volume of pesticides or fertilizers to be applied to crops.