Meters to Nanometers (m to nm) Converter
A scientific calculator to convert meters (m), micrometers (µm), and nanometers (nm) instantly. Enter a value in any field to see all units update.
How to Convert Meters to Nanometers
The conversion between meters (m) and nanometers (nm) is a simple factor of one billion (a 1 followed by nine zeros). This conversion is fundamental in fields like physics, nanotechnology, and optics.
The Conversion Formula
The relationship is based on the prefixes "micro-" (millionth) and "nano-" (billionth):
1 Meter (m) = 109 nm
Therefore, to convert from meters to nanometers, you **multiply the meter value by 1,000,000,000**.
To convert from nanometers to meters, you **divide the nanometer value by 1,000,000,000** (or multiply by 10-9).
The Scale of Metric Prefixes
Understanding the "steps" from human scale (meters) down to the nano-scale is key. Each of these units is 1,000 times smaller than the one before it.
| Unit | Symbol | In Meters (Scientific) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meter | m | 1 m (100 m) | Human height |
| Millimeter | mm | 0.001 m (10-3 m) | Tip of a pencil |
| Micrometer | µm | 0.000001 m (10-6 m) | Bacteria, water droplet |
| Nanometer | nm | 0.000000001 m (10-9 m) | DNA strand, microchip circuits |
| Angstrom | Å | 0.0000000001 m (10-10 m) | Atom size, chemical bonds |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many nanometers are in a meter?
There are **one billion (1,000,000,000)** nanometers in one meter. In scientific notation, this is written as 109 nm.
What is 1 nanometer in meters?
1 nanometer (nm) is equal to one-billionth of a meter. As a decimal, this is 0.000000001 m. In scientific notation, it's written as 1×10-9 m or 1e-9 m.
What are nanometers used to measure?
Nanometers are used to measure things on an atomic or molecular scale. This includes the wavelength of visible light (approx. 400-700 nm), the width of a strand of DNA (about 2.5 nm), and the tiny transistors on a computer chip (which can be smaller than 10 nm).