Odometer facts for kids

An electronic odometer (below) with digital display

An odometer or odograph is an instrument that shows the distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. It can be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The name comes from the Greek words hodós ("path" or "gateway") and métron ("measure"). It is sometimes called a mileometer or milometer.

Images for kids

• 

  Reconstruction of Hero's odometer, 1st century AD, Alexandria, Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum

• 

  A Han Dynasty stone rubbing of a horse-drawn odometer cart.

• 

  A Hubodometer on a wheel of a semitrailer

• 

  A Smiths speedometer from the 1920s showing odometer and trip meter.

• 

  After reaching the maximum reading, an odometer or trip meter restarts from zero, called odometer rollover. Digital odometers may not rollover.

See also

In Spanish: Odómetro para niños