Select a category and enter your values below
To convert from Nanometer (nm) to Fathom (fathom), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
Let's convert 5 Nanometer (nm) to Fathom (fathom).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Nanometer (nm) is equal to Fathom (fathom).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Nanometer (nm) to Fathom (fathom):
| Nanometers | Fathoms |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 nm | fathom |
| 0.001 nm | fathom |
| 0.1 nm | fathom |
| 1 nm | fathom |
| 2 nm | fathom |
| 3 nm | fathom |
| 4 nm | fathom |
| 5 nm | fathom |
| 6 nm | fathom |
| 7 nm | fathom |
| 8 nm | fathom |
| 9 nm | fathom |
| 10 nm | fathom |
| 20 nm | fathom |
| 30 nm | fathom |
| 40 nm | fathom |
| 50 nm | fathom |
| 100 nm | fathom |
| 1000 nm | fathom |
| 10000 nm | fathom |
For all Length converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
A nanometer (nm) is a tiny unit of measurement in the metric system.
To give you an idea of its scale, one nanometer is equal to one-billionth of a meter (10-9 m). The plural form is nanometers.
A nanometer is so small that it's challenging to visualize. To put it in perspective:
A single strand of human hair is enormous in comparison, measuring approximately 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers in diameter.
Similarly, a standard sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.
This comparison highlights the incredible nanometer scale at which modern science operates.
The nanometer is central to nanotechnology, which works with matter at the atomic and molecular scale.
Modern electronics are a good example: transistors on computer chips are measured in nanometers.
A smaller process node (for example, a 5 nm chip) enables manufacturers to pack more transistors into the same area, resulting in faster and more energy-efficient devices, such as smartphones and laptops.
The prefix "nano" originates from the ancient Greek word "νάνος" (nános), which means "dwarf."
This origin perfectly captures the essence of the nanometer's tiny size. It's a fitting name for a unit used to measure things far too small for the human eye to see.
A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial system of measurement.
It is most famously used for measuring the depth of water.
A fathom is equal to exactly 6 feet (or 1.8288 meters). The plural form is fathoms.
The word "fathom" originates from the Old English word "fæthm," which means "outstretched arms" or "a pair of embracing arms."
Historically, a fathom was defined as the distance from the middle fingertip of one hand to the middle fingertip of the other when a person's arms are fully extended.
This made it a convenient and readily available unit of measurement for sailors and workers.
The fathom is best known for its use in a nautical context to measure water depth.
Mariners would drop a weighted line, called a sounding line, into the water and count the number of "arm spans" it took to reach the bottom.
This measurement was crucial for safe navigation, anchoring, and creating nautical charts to map the seabed.
While modern technology and the metric system have replaced the fathom in official hydrographic surveys, its influence persists.
The term is still used informally in commercial fishing and can be found on many older nautical charts.
Figuratively, the verb "to fathom"—meaning to understand something deeply—is a direct link to the original act of measuring depth and getting to the bottom of things.