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39 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, December 15, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 14, 2004 Since you asked Micron is millionth of a meter A lot of articles have been written about pollution problems in the valley. In some of the articles, you refer to particles that are 10 micrometers or less. How does that compare to a micron? Is it the same thing? Or is it different? Sam K., Gold Hill Not being math wizards here at SYA headquarters, we’re sometimes just as puzzled as you about all these words used to describe a certain kind of measurement. A micron is a metric unit of length equal to one-millionth of a meter, and so is a micrometer, making the two words synonymous, according to Webster’s Dictionary. We use whichever word the particular public agency prefers, although to tell you the truth, Sam, our gut feeling is that we should probably use the word micron. Micrometer is also used to describe an instrument that measures small things, whereas a micron only has the one definition that we know about. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities