How long is a mile? Definition and real life examples

How long is a mile? A mile is a unit of length in the customary system of measurement that is equal to 5280 feet of 1760 yards.

Things around the world that measure approximately 1 mile

The runway of a small airport or the runway for a private jet could approximately equal to 1 mile. Many runways though have a length of at least 2 miles.

The length and width of 1 soccer field could be 150 meters and 50 meters respectively. Suppose you arrange 14 of the soccer field by putting 7 soccer fields immediately next to 7 soccer fields until you get a rectangle .

The perimeter will approximately equal to 1 mile. 

The height of burj khalifa, the tallest building in the world at the time of this writing, is 828 meters. Twice the height of burj khalifa is 1656 meters. Therefore, twice the height of burj khalifa is just a little bigger than 1 mile.

Facts about 1 mile, speed, and time

• If you walk at a normal pace it may take you about 20 minutes to walk a distance of 1 mile.

• A car going 40 miles per hour will need about 90 seconds to cover a distance of 1 mile.

• An airplane going 180 miles per hour on the runway may need about 20 seconds to travel 1 mile before takeoff.