How to convert between nm, um, mm, m and km

• Nanometers


  Smallest unit of length you need to know
• Units of length


  • Nanometers
  • Micrometers
  • Millimeters
  • Meters
  • Kilometers
• Each unit is 1,000 times bigger or smaller than the one next to it
• Converting between units of length

  1. Divide by 1,000 to convert to a larger unit

  2. Multiply by 1,000 to convert to a smaller unit
• To convert between non-adjacent units, convert in steps
• • Naked eye can see down to 100 micrometers
  • Light microscope can see down to 500 nanometers
  • Electron microscope can see down to 0.1 nanometers
• Centimeters


  10 millimeters, 100 centimeters in a meter
• Converting centimeters


  1. To meters: divide by 100

  2. To millimeters: multiply by 10