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Convert Length from Nanometer to Kilometer (nm to km)
Multiple conversions

Multiple conversions

On This Page

Nanometer to Kilometer Conversion FormulaExampleWhat is a Nanometer (nm)?How Small Is a Nanometer?What Are Nanometers Used For?Where Does the Word "Nanometer" Come From?What is a Kilometer (km)?Where Does the Word "Kilometer" Come From?Which Countries Use the Kilometer?How Far Is a Kilometer? Examples You Can VisualizeWhat is the metric system?Nanometer to Kilometer Conversion Table

Nanometer to Kilometer Conversion Formula

To convert from Nanometer (nm) to Kilometer (km), use the following formula:

 Kilometer (km)\textbf{ Kilometer} \text{ (km)}

=1109×11000× Nanometer (nm)= \frac{1}{10^{9}} \times \frac{1}{1000}\times \textbf{ Nanometer} \text{ (nm)}

=11012× Nanometer (nm)= \frac{1}{10^{12}}\times \textbf{ Nanometer} \text{ (nm)}

=10−12× Nanometer (nm)= 10^{-12}\times \textbf{ Nanometer} \text{ (nm)}

Example

Let's convert 5 Nanometer (nm) to Kilometer (km).

Using the formula:

5×10−12=5×10−125 \times 10^{-12} = 5\times 10^{-12}

Therefore, 5 Nanometer (nm) is equal to 5×10−125\times 10^{-12} Kilometer (km).

What is a Nanometer (nm)?

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.

How Small Is a Nanometer?

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.

What Are Nanometers Used For?

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.

Where Does the Word "Nanometer" Come From?

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.

What is a Kilometer (km)?

A kilometer (km) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to 1,000 meters.

The plural form is kilometers.

Where Does the Word "Kilometer" Come From?

The term "kilometer" is composed of two parts: the metric unit "meter" and the Greek prefix "kilo," which comes from the word "khilioi," meaning "thousand."

Thus, a kilometer translates to one thousand meters.

This concept is a fundamental aspect of the decimal-based metric system, established in France during the 1790s. The logical, prefix-based nature of the metric system simplifies conversions, which is a key reason for its widespread adoption.

Which Countries Use the Kilometer?

The kilometer is the official unit of measurement for geographical distance in the vast majority of countries worldwide.

Only a few nations still primarily use the mile for road signage and navigation, most notably:

  • The United States
  • The United Kingdom
  • Liberia
  • Myanmar

For international travel, science, and sporting events like marathons and the Olympics, the kilometer is the universally accepted standard.

How Far Is a Kilometer? Examples You Can Visualize

To understand how far a kilometer is, consider these real-world examples:

  • Walking one kilometer at an average pace takes about 10 to 12 minutes.
  • The Earth's circumference at the equator is approximately 40,075 kilometers.
  • In terms of astronomical distances, the Moon is, on average, about 384,400 kilometers away from Earth.

This consistent unit of measurement makes it easy to compare everything from everyday travel to distances in space.

What is the metric system?

The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement used by nearly every country in the world. Its key feature is the use of prefixes to denote multiples and submultiples of the base units by powers of ten.

Nanometer to Kilometer Conversion Table

Here are some quick reference conversions from Nanometer (nm) to Kilometer (km):

NanometersKilometers
0.000001 nm10−1810^{-18} km
0.001 nm10−1510^{-15} km
0.1 nm10−1310^{-13} km
1 nm10−1210^{-12} km
2 nm2×10−122\times 10^{-12} km
3 nm3×10−123\times 10^{-12} km
4 nm4×10−124\times 10^{-12} km
5 nm5×10−125\times 10^{-12} km
6 nm6×10−126\times 10^{-12} km
7 nm7×10−127\times 10^{-12} km
8 nm8×10−128\times 10^{-12} km
9 nm9×10−129\times 10^{-12} km
10 nm10−1110^{-11} km
20 nm2×10−112\times 10^{-11} km
30 nm3×10−113\times 10^{-11} km
40 nm4×10−114\times 10^{-11} km
50 nm5×10−115\times 10^{-11} km
100 nm10−1010^{-10} km
1000 nm10−910^{-9} km
10000 nm10−810^{-8} km

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