science

Indonesian units of measurement

Indonesian units of measurement 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 Indonesian units of measurement rather than just read about it. In short: A number of units of measurement were used in Indonesia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. Metric system adopted in 1923 and has been compulsory in Indonesia since 1938.

Key takeaways

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

Reference excerpt

A number of units of measurement were used in Indonesia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. Metric system adopted in 1923 and has been compulsory in Indonesia since 1938.

System before metric system Old Dutch and local measures were used under Dutch East Indies. Local measures were very variable, and later they have been legally defined with their metric equivalents.

Length A number of units were used to measure length. One depa was equal to 1.70 m by its legal definition. Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below: 1 hasta = 1⁄4 depa 1 kilan = 1⁄8 depa.

Mass A number of units were used to measure mass.

Ordinary One pikol (or one pecul) was equal to 61.7613025 kg by its legal definition. Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below: 1 thail = 1⁄1,600 pikol 1 catti = 1⁄100 pikol 1 kabi = 1⁄100 pikol 1 kulack = 0.0725 pikol 1 amat = 2 pikol 1 small bahar = 3 pikol 1 large bahar = 4.5 pikol 1 timbang = 5 pikol 1 kojang (Batavia) = 27 pikol = 1,667.555 kg 1 kojang (Semarang) = 28 pikol = 1,729.316 kg 1 kojang (Soerabaya) = 30 pikol = 1,852.839 kg.

For precious metals One thail (tael) was equal to 54.090 kg by its legal definition. Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below: 1 wang = 1⁄48 thail 1 tali = 1⁄16 thail 1 soekoe = 1⁄8 thail 1 reaal = 1⁄2 thail.

For opium One thail was equal to 38.601 kg by its legal definition. Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below: 1 tji = 1⁄10 thail 1 tjembang Mata = 1⁄1,000 thail 1 hoen = 1⁄1,000 thail.

Area Several units were used to measure area. One bahoe (or 1 bouw) was equal to 7,096.5 m2 and lieue2 (Geographic) was equal to 55.0632 km by its legal definition.

Capacity Two systems, dry and liquid, were used to measure capacity.

Dry Several units were used to measure dry capacity. One kojang was equal to 2,011.2679 L by its legal definition. One pikol was equal to 1⁄30 kojang.

Liquid A number of units were used to measure liquid capacity. Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below: 1 takar (for oil) = 25.770 L 1 kit (for oil) = 15.159 L 1 koelak (for oil) = 3.709 L 1 kan (for various products) = 1.575 L 1 mutsje (for various products) = 0.1516 L 1 pintje (for oil) = 0.0758 L.

Sumatra Several local units were used in Sumatra.

Length Units for length included: 1 etto = 2 jankal 1 hailoh = 2 etto 1 tung = 4 hailoh = 12 feet.

Capacity Units for capacity included: 1 koolah = 2.1173 bushel 1 pakha = 0.14535 gallon.

Mass Units for mass included: 1 catty = 2.118 lb 1 maund = 77 lb 1 pecul = 133+1⁄3 lb 1 candil = 423+1⁄2 lb 1 ootan (for camphor) = 4 lb.

Java Several local units were used in Java. Old Dutch units too were in use, and other units were varied for example one town to another.:

Length One covid was equal to 3⁄4 yard and other units were Dutch.

Mass Units for mass included: 1 gantang (for coffee) = 10 catties 1 pecul = 100 catties = 135.6312 lb 1 bahar (at Bantam) = 396 lb 1 bahar (at Bantam; used for pepper) = 406.78 lb 1 bahar (at Batavia) = 610.17 lb 1 timbang (for grain) = 677.9625 lb 1 tael (at Bantam) = 0.1511 lb 1 tael (at Batavia) = 0.0847 lb.

Capacity Units for capacity included: 1 kanne = 0.394 gallons 1 legger (for arrack) = 160.0 gallons 1 bambou (at Bantam) = 0.09223 bushels 1 koyang = 147.568 bushels 1 koyang (at Batavia; measure for rise) = 62432 bushels.

Celebes (Modern Sulawesi) Units were resemble or identical with the units of neighbouring islands under Netherlands.

Mass One pecul was equal to 135.64 lb.

Molucca Islands Dutch units and other units resembling the units in Java, Sumatra, etc. were used.

Amboyna

Mass Units included: 1 bahar = 597.61 lb Sus1 mace = 28+1⁄2 grain 1 tael = 55.3371 bushel.

Ternate

Mass One catty was equal to 1.3017 lb.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Indonesian units of measurement

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Indonesian units of measurement 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 Indonesian units of measurement 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 Indonesian units of measurement 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 Indonesian units of measurement

In research: Indonesian units of measurement 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 Indonesian units of measurement 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: Indonesian units of measurement is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Culture of Indonesia, Units of measurement by country, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Indonesian units of measurement 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 Indonesian units of measurement in 20 minutes

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

Frequently asked questions

What is Indonesian units of measurement in simple terms?

A number of units of measurement were used in Indonesia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. Metric system adopted in 1923 and has been compulsory in Indonesia since 1938.

Why does Indonesian units of measurement 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 Indonesian units of measurement?

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 Indonesian units of measurement.