A tall building is rising, the backyard is getting a new swimming pool, a new memorial commemorating war heroes, children’s parks, building a new house- whenever there is new construction going on, the first and the foremost thing that we always need is bricks. Bricks are an integral part of any construction, without which, building up anything is impossible. It is the length, width, or height of a particular region that determines how many bricks will be needed to construct anything in that region. 1000 bricks can cover 83.33 square feet of area. Let us see how we can easily determine the total area that will be covered by 1000 equal bricks.
Calculation
The normal brick size in the US, as controlled by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is 8” X 4” X 4” inches, put in the order of length X breadth X height.
Again, 12 inches is equal to 1 foot, so we will use this conversion later.
Now, when we are speaking of an area, we normally consider the length and breadth. So, as the length = 8” and breadth= 4”.
So, the surface area of each piece of brick = length X breadth
= 8 inches X 4 inches = 12 square inches.
Now, as we are considering 100 bricks, so the total area covered by 1000 such bricks,
= 1000 X 12 square inches = 12000 sq. inches.
Again, since 1 foot = 12 inches, so 1 inch = 1/12 foot.
So, we can say that 1 square inch = 1/12 X 1/12 = 1/144 square foot.
Therefore, 12000 inches expressed in square foot equals,
=12000 X 1/144 square foot
=83.33 square foot.
So, the 1000 bricks can cover 83.33 square feet of area.
Do all the bricks across the globe always cover the same area when taken in the same number as above?
NO. bricks in different countries of the world have different shapes. Even, though the same country has different dimensions of bricks in different regions. So, 1000 of these bricks taken from different regions always covers a different area. Whenever the dimensions of the brick change, the area covered by it also changes. So, they never occupy the same area.
Can the area calculated above be calculated in other unit systems?
Absolutely yes. We have already seen that the area is covered by the 1000 bricks, each of standard US dimensions of 8” X 4” X 4”, we shall now see how to convert them into CGS and MKS systems.
FPS
Here, the unit of length is a centimeter while that in FPS (Foot-pound-seconds) system was a foot. Now, we know that 1 foot = 30.48 centimeters.
So, 1 square foot = 929.03 square centimetres.
Therefore, 83.33 sq. foot = 83.33 X 929.03 Sq. cm = 77416.103 sq. cm.
So, as we have seen, 1000 bricks of dimensions 8” X 4” X 4” will cover a dimension of 83.33. square foot or 7741.103 square meters.
MKS (Metre-kilogram-second):
- Here, the unit of length is a meter while that in FPS (Foot-pound-seconds) system was a foot. Now, we know that 1 foot = 0.3048 meters.
- So, 1 square foot = 0.0929square metres.
- Therefore, 83.33 sq. foot = 83.33 X 0.0929 Sq. m = 7.7416103 sq. m.
- So, as we have seen, 1000 bricks of dimensions 8” X 4” X 4” will cover a dimension of 83.33. square foot or 7.741103 square meters.
What are bricks made up of?
In different places on the earth, bricks are made up of different materials and in different processes.
For example: in the tropical and equatorial regions, the bricks are made up of mud.
In the temperate regions and many other places also, ash is used to make bricks. Ashes are collected from the burning of waste materials and other undesired elements.
In many regions, bricks are made up of rocks. In the olden days, when the soil was rock and hardy, rocks were used as bricks. One can find many rock castles and forts dotting the European landscape.
Also, in the polar regions, snow was used to make bricks to make the traditional igloos. Though nowadays, the modern technology of brick making is also used there, igloos can still be seen.
Conclusion:
So, from the above calculations, it is evident that 1000 bricks, which have dimensions 8” X 4” X 4” inches, in the order of length X width/breadth X height, a total area of 12,000 square inches or 83.33 square feet will be covered.
FAQ:
How can bricks be substituted?
Nowadays, and also in the olden days, various ways were available to substitute bricks. In many regions, buildings were made up of rocks, sandstones, or limestones. Also, in modern days, they are substituted by concrete or mainly by using metal structures in erection processes.
