1mW

1mW refers to one milliwatt, a unit of power. The prefix "milli-" indicates one-thousandth of a base unit. Therefore, 1 milliwatt is equal to 0.001 watts. The watt (W) is the SI derived unit of power, defined as one joule per second. Power is the rate at which energy is transferred or converted.

Millwatts are commonly used to measure the output power of low-power electronic devices and signals. For instance, the power output of laser pointers, radio frequency (RF) transmitters in wireless devices like Bluetooth modules or Wi-Fi adapters, and optical signals in fiber optic communication systems are often specified in milliwatts. This unit provides a convenient way to express very small amounts of power without using excessive decimal places.

In the context of lasers, 1mW is a typical power output for many common consumer-grade laser pointers, which are generally considered safe for brief, accidental exposure to the eye when used responsibly. For RF signals, 1mW is a relatively low power level, often found in devices operating over short distances. Understanding milliwatts helps in comparing the strength of different signal sources or the performance capabilities of various electronic components.