ångstrom

The ångstrom is a unit of length, equal to one ten-billionth of a meter. It is commonly used in the measurement of microscopic distances, such as the length of an atom or the wavelength of visible light. The unit is named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström.

While not a formal SI unit, the ångstrom is widely used in various scientific fields. For instance, in solid-state physics and chemistry, atomic radii and interatomic distances are often expressed in ångstroms. In astronomy, the wavelengths of light emitted or absorbed by celestial objects are also frequently given in this unit.

The conversion factor is straightforward: one ångstrom is equal to 10⁻¹⁰ meters, or 0.1 nanometers. Conversely, one meter contains 10¹⁰ ångstroms. Due to its small scale, it provides a convenient way to describe the dimensions of objects at the atomic and molecular level without resorting to very small decimal numbers. Despite the prevalence of SI units, the ångstrom persists in many scientific contexts due to its historical significance and practical utility.