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Hoppus

Hoppus is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Hoppus rather than just read about it. In short: The hoppus cubic foot (or "hoppus cube" or "h cu ft") was the standard volume measurement used for timber in the British Empire and countries in the British sphere of influence before the introduction of metric units. It is still used in the hardwood trade in some countries.

Key takeaways

  • Hoppus belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Hoppus to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Hoppus from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The hoppus cubic foot (or "hoppus cube" or "h cu ft") was the standard volume measurement used for timber in the British Empire and countries in the British sphere of influence before the introduction of metric units. It is still used in the hardwood trade in some countries. This volume measurement was developed to estimate what volume of a round log would be usable timber after processing, in effect attempting to ‘square’ the log and allow for waste. The hoppus ton (HT) was also a traditionally used unit of volume in British forestry. One hoppus ton is equal to 50 hoppus feet or 1.8027 cubic meters. Some shipments of tropical hardwoods, especially shipments of teak from Myanmar (Burma), are still stated in hoppus tons.

History The English surveyor Edward Hoppus introduced the unit in his 1736 manual of practical calculations. The tables include reference to stone as well as timber, as stone can similarly suffer wastage during processing into regular pieces.

Calculation of timber volume in round logs The following calculation can be used to estimate the usable timber in round logs using a "girth tape" that is calibrated in "quarter-girth inches" (e.g. that shows "12" when measuring a 48-inch-circumference log):

Hoppus Volume (h ft) = ("Quarter Girth" (in))2 × Length (ft) / 144 = (circumference (ft) / 4)2 × Length (ft)

Equivalents 1 h ft = 1.273 ft3 27.74 h ft = 1 m3 1 h ft = 0.03605 m3

See also Board foot Cord (unit) Cubic ton List of unusual units of measurement Units of measurement

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Hoppus

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Hoppus claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Hoppus before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Hoppus ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Hoppus

In research
Hoppus appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Hoppus in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Hoppus is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Imperial units, Units of measurement in surveying, Units of volume, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Hoppus outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Hoppus in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Hoppus means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Hoppus out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hoppus in simple terms?

The hoppus cubic foot (or "hoppus cube" or "h cu ft") was the standard volume measurement used for timber in the British Empire and countries in the British sphere of influence before the introduction of metric units. It is still used in the hardwood trade in some countries.

Why does Hoppus matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Hoppus?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Hoppus.

Tags

  • Imperial units
  • Units of measurement in surveying
  • Units of volume

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