Orders of magnitude (length)
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To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following list describes various lengths between 1.6×10−35 m and 1.3×1026 m.
| Factor (m) | Multiple | Value | Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10−35 | 1.6×10−35 m | Planck length; size of a hypothetical string; lengths smaller than this do not make any physical sense, according to current theories of physics | |
| . . . | |||
| 10−24 | 1 yoctometre (ym) | ||
| 10−21 | 1 zeptometre (zm) | ||
| 10−18 | 1 attometre (am) | upper limit for the size of quarks and electrons | |
| sensitivity of the LIGO detector for gravitational waves | |||
| 10−15 | 1 femtometre (fm) | size of a proton | |
| classical electron radius | |||
| 10−14 | 10 fm | scale of the atomic nucleus | |
| range of the weak force | |||
| 10−13 | 100 fm | ||
| 10−12 | 1 picometre (pm) | distance between atomic nuclei in a white dwarf | |
| wavelength of gamma rays | |||
| 2.4 pm | Compton wavelength of electron | ||
| 5 pm | wavelength of shortest X-rays | ||
| 10−11 | 10 pm | 25 pm | radius of hydrogen atom |
| 31 pm | radius of helium atom | ||
| 53 pm | Bohr radius | ||
| 10−10 | 100 pm | wavelength of X-rays | |
| 100 pm | 1 Ångström | ||
| 100 pm (0.1 nm) | covalent radius of sulfur atom | ||
| 126 pm (0.126 nm) | covalent radius of ruthenium atom | ||
| 135 pm (0.135 nm) | covalent radius of technetium atom | ||
| 153 pm (0.153 nm) | covalent radius of silver atom | ||
| 154 pm (0.154 nm) | length of a typical covalent bond (C–C). | ||
| 155 pm (0.155 nm) | covalent radius of zirconium atom | ||
| 175 pm (0.175 nm) | covalent radius of thulium atom | ||
| 225 pm (0.225 nm) | covalent radius of caesium atom | ||
| 500 pm (0.50 nm) | width of protein α helix | ||
| 10−9 | 1 nanometre (nm) | 1 nm | diameter of Carbon nanotube |
| 2 nm | diameter of DNA helix | ||
| 2.5 nm | Smallest transistor gate oxide thickness microprocessors (as of Jan 2007) | ||
| 3 nm | distance between a hard drive read head and the disk surface | ||
| 3.4 nm | length of a DNA turn (10 bp) | ||
| 3 × 8 nm | size of an albumin protein molecule | ||
| 6 - 10 nm | thickness of cell membrane | ||
| 10−8 | 10 nm | 10 nm | typical diameter of nanowire |
| 10 nm | thickness of cell wall in gram-negative bacteria | ||
| 20 nm | thickness of bacterial flagellum | ||
| 20 - 80 nm | thickness of cell wall in gram-positive bacteria | ||
| 40 nm | extreme ultraviolet wavelength | ||
| 45 nm | Smallest feature size of production microprocessors (as of Jan 2007) | ||
| 90 nm | human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (generally, viruses range in size from 20 nm to 450 nm) | ||
| 10−7 | 100 nm | size of chromosomes | |
| 100 nm | 90% of particles in wood smoke are smaller than this | ||
| 120 nm | typical penetrating particle size for a ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) filter (removes up to 99.999% at 0.12 micrometres) and a SULPA (Super ULPA) filter (removes up to 99.9999% at 0.12 micrometres) | ||
| 121.6 nm | wavelength of the lyman-alpha line | ||
| 280 nm | near ultraviolet wavelength | ||
| 300 nm | most-penetrating particle size for a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter (N100 removes up to 99.97% at 0.3 micrometres, N95 removes up to 95% at 0.3 micrometres) | ||
| 380–430 nm | wavelength of violet light—see color and optical spectrum | ||
| 430–450 nm | wavelength of indigo light | ||
| 450–500 nm | wavelength of blue light | ||
| 500–520 nm | wavelength of cyan light | ||
| 520–565 nm | wavelength of green light | ||
| 565–590 nm | wavelength of yellow light | ||
| 590–625 nm | wavelength of orange light | ||
| 625–740 nm | wavelength of red light | ||
| 10−6 | 1 micrometre (µm) | 1 µm | also called 1 micron |
| 1–3 µm | particle size that a surgical mask removes at 80-95% efficiency | ||
| 1–10 µm | diameter of typical bacterium | ||
| 1.55 µm | wavelength of light used in optical fibre | ||
| 3–5 µm | size of a human spermatozoon's head (radius by length) | ||
| 4–5 µm | Average width of strand of Spider web major ampullate (dragline) thread from Nephila species [1] | ||
| 6–8 µm | diameter of a human red blood cell | ||
| 6 µm | anthrax spore | ||
| 7 µm | diameter of the nucleus of typical eukariotic cell | ||
| 10−5 | 10 µm | 10 µm | typical size of a fog, mist or cloud water droplet |
| 10 µm | width of cotton fibre | ||
| 10.6 µm | wavelength of light emitted by a Carbon dioxide laser | ||
| 12 µm | width of Acrylic fibre | ||
| 13 µm | width of nylon fibre | ||
| 14 µm | width of polyester fibre | ||
| 15 µm | width of silk fibre (double stranded) | ||
| 17 µm | dust mite excreta ¹ | ||
| 20 µm | width of wool fibre | ||
| 25.4 µm | 1/1000 inch, commonly referred to as 1 mil | ||
| 50 µm | typical length of Euglena gracilis, a flagellate protist | ||
| 80 µm | average width of human hair (ranges from 18 to 180 µm) | ||
| 10−4 | 100 µm | 125 µm | dust mite |
| 200 µm | typical length of Paramecium caudatum, a ciliate protist | ||
| 300 µm | diameter of Thiomargarita namibiensis, the largest bacterium ever discovered | ||
| 500 µm | MEMS micro-engine | ||
| 500 µm | diameter of a human ovum | ||
| 500 µm | typical length of Amoeba proteus, an amoeboid protist | ||
| 10−3 | 1 millimetre (mm) | 2.54 mm | distance between pins in old DIP (dual-inline-package) electronic components |
| 5 mm | length of average red ant | ||
| 7.62 mm | common military ammunition size | ||
| 10−2 | 1 centimetre (cm) | 1.5 cm | length of a large mosquito |
| 2.54 cm | 1 inch | ||
| 3.1 cm | 1 attoparsec (10−18 parsecs) | ||
| 4.267 cm | diameter of a Golf ball | ||
| 10−1 | 1 decimetre (dm) | 10 cm | wavelength of the highest UHF radio frequency, 3 GHz |
| 10 cm | diameter of the cervix upon entering the second stage of labour | ||
| 10.16 cm | 1 hand used in measuring height of horses (4 inches) | ||
| 12 cm | wavelength of the 2.45 GHz ISM radio band | ||
| 15 cm | height of a Lilliputian from Gulliver's Travels | ||
| 15 cm | approximate size of largest beetle species | ||
| 15 cm | length of a Bic pen with cap on | ||
| 21 cm | wavelength of the hydrogen line, a hyperfine transition of the hydrogen atom | ||
| 22 cm | diameter of a typical soccer ball | ||
| 29.98 cm | distance light travels in one nanosecond | ||
| 30.48 cm | 1 foot | ||
| 31 cm | wingspan of largest butterfly species Ornithoptera alexandrae | ||
| 50-65 cm | a pizote's tail | ||
| 66 cm | length of the longest pine cones (produced by the sugar pine) | ||
| 90 cm | average length of a rapier, a fencing sword | ||
| 91 cm | 1 yard | ||
| 100 | 1 metre | 1 m | wavelength of the lowest UHF and highest VHF radio frequency, 300 MHz |
| 1 m | approximate height of the top part of a doorknob on a door | ||
| 1.435 m | Standard gauge of railway track | ||
| 1.7 m (5 feet 7 inches) | average height of a human being | ||
| 2.44 m | height of a football goal. | ||
| 2.45 m | highest jump by a human being (Javier Sotomayor) | ||
| 2.72 m | tallest known human being (Robert Wadlow) | ||
| 2.77 - 3.44 m | wavelength of the broadcast radio FM band 87–108 MHz | ||
| 3.048 m (10 feet) | height of the basket in basketball | ||
| 5.5 m | height of tallest animal, the giraffe | ||
| 8.95 m | longest jump by a human being (Mike Powell) | ||
| 101 | 1 decametre (dam) | 10 m | wavelength of the lowest VHF and highest shortwave radio frequency, 30 MHz |
| 18.44 m (60 feet 6 inches) | distance between the pitcher's rubber and home plate on a baseball field | ||
| 20.12 m (22 yards) | length of a cricket pitch | ||
| 21 m | height of High Force waterfall in England. | ||
| 23 m | height of the obelisk of the Place de la Concorde, Paris. | ||
| 25 m | wavelength of the broadcast radio shortwave band at 12 MHz | ||
| 27.43 m (90 feet) | distance between bases on a baseball field | ||
| 30 m | length of a blue whale, the largest animal | ||
| 31 m | wavelength of the broadcast radio shortwave band at 9.7 MHz | ||
| 40 m | average depth beneath the seabed of the Channel tunnel | ||
| 49 m | width of an American football field (53 1/3 yards) | ||
| 49 m | wavelength of the broadcast radio shortwave band at 6.1 MHz | ||
| 52 m | height of Niagara Falls | ||
| 55 m | height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa | ||
| 62 m | Height of Pyramid of Djoser | ||
| 70 m | width of a typical football field | ||
| 70 m | length of the Bayeux Tapestry | ||
| 88.40 m | wingspan of the Antonov An-225 transport aircraft | ||
| 91.44 m | length of an American football field (100 yards, measured between the goal lines) | ||
| 93.47 m | height of the Statue of Liberty (foundation of pedestal to torch) | ||
| 102 | 1 hectometre (hm) | 100 m | wavelength of the lowest shortwave radio frequency and highest medium wave radio frequency, 3 MHz |
| 105 m | length of a typical football field | ||
| 109.73 m | total length of an American football field (120 yards, including the end zones) | ||
| 115.55 m | height of the world's tallest tree, a Coast redwood | ||
| 137 m (147 m) | height (present/original) of the Great Pyramid of Giza | ||
| 139.5 m | height of the world's tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka | ||
| 187 m | shortest wavelength of the broadcast radio AM band, 1600 kHz | ||
| 299.792 m | approximate distance travelled by light in one microsecond | ||
| 300.65 m | height of the Eiffel Tower (roof) | ||
| 340 m | distance sound travels in air in one second; see speed of sound | ||
| 400–500 m | approximate heights of the world's tallest skyscrapers of the past 70 years. | ||
| 458 m | length of the Knock Nevis, the world's largest supertanker | ||
| 541 m (1776 ft) | height of the planned Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site | ||
| 555 m | longest wavelength of the broadcast radio AM band, 540 kHz | ||
| 637 m | present (Apr 2008) height of the Burj Dubai, the world's tallest free-standing land structure which is projected to reach 645 m (818 m including antenna) at completion in 2008 | ||
| 647 m | height of the Warsaw radio mast, formerly the tallest man-made structure, collapsed in 1991 | ||
| 979 m | height of the Salto Angel, the world's highest free-falling waterfall (Venezuela) | ||
| 103 | 1 kilometre (km) | 1 km | wavelength of the lowest medium wave radio frequency, 300 kHz |
| 1609 m | 1 international mile | ||
| 1852 m | 1 nautical mile | ||
| 1991 m | Span of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, largest in the world as of June 2006 | ||
| 2309 m | Axial length of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world | ||
| 8848 m | height of the highest mountain on earth, Mount Everest | ||
| 104 | 10 km | 10.911 km | depth of deepest part of the ocean, Mariana Trench |
| 13 km | narrowest width of the Strait of Gibraltar, separating Europe and Africa | ||
| 25 km | height of the highest known mountain of the solar system, Olympus Mons on Mars | ||
| 30 km | length of the longest man made dike enclosed by water on two sides, the Afsluitdijk | ||
| 31.3 km | highest parachute jump (Joseph Kittinger) | ||
| 33 km | narrowest width of the English Channel at the Strait of Dover | ||
| 34.668 km | highest manned balloon flight (Malcolm D. Ross and Victor E. Prather) | ||
| 38.422 km | length of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, as of June 2006, the longest bridge in the world | ||
| 42.195 km | length of the Marathon, the longest mainstream long-distance road running event | ||
| 53.9 km | length of the Seikan Tunnel, as of February 2006, the longest in the world | ||
| 77.1 km | total length of the Panama Canal | ||
| 90 km | width of the Bering Strait | ||
| 105 | 100 km | 111 km | one degree of latitude on Earth |
| 163 km | length of the Suez Canal | ||
| 300 km | the approximate distance travelled by light in one millisecond | ||
| 560 km | distance of Bordeaux-Paris, formerly the longest one-day professional cycling race | ||
| 804.67 km (500 miles) | distance of the Indy 500 automobile race | ||
| 975 km | greatest diameter of the largest solar system asteroid,[1] 1 Ceres | ||
| 106 | 1,000 km = 1 megametre (Mm) | 2,390 km | diameter of dwarf planet Pluto, formerly the smallest "planet"[1] of our solar system |
| 3,480 km | diameter of the Moon | ||
| 5,200 km | typical distance covered by the winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans automobile endurance race | ||
| 6,400 km | length of the Great Wall of China | ||
| 6,600 km | approximate length of the two longest rivers, the Nile and the Amazon | ||
| 7,821 km | length of the Trans-Canada Highway | ||
| 9,288 km | length of the Trans-Siberian Railway, longest in the world | ||
| 107 | 10,000 km | 12,756 km | equatorial diameter of the Earth |
| 40,075 km | length of the Earth's equator | ||
| 108 | 100,000 km | 142,984 km | diameter of Jupiter |
| 299,792.458 km | distance travelled by light in one second | ||
| 384,000 km = 384 Mm | Moon's orbital distance from Earth | ||
| 109 | 1 million km = 1 gigametre (Gm) | 1,390,000 km = 1.39 Gm | diameter of the Sun |
| 4,200,000 km = 4.2 Gm | greatest mileage ever recorded by a car (A 1966 Volvo P-1800S, still driving) | ||
| 1010 | 10 million km | 18 million km | approximately one light-minute |
| 1011 | 100 million km | 150 million km = 150 Gm | 1 astronomical unit (AU); mean distance between Earth and Sun. |
| ~ 900 Gm | optical diameter of Betelgeuse (~600 x Sun) | ||
| 1012 | 1000 million km = 1 terametre (Tm) | 1.4 ×109 km | orbital distance of Saturn from Sun |
| ~ 3 ×109 km | estimated optical diameter of VY Canis Majoris, as of 2007 the largest known star (~2000 x Sun) | ||
| 5.9 ×109 km = 5.9 Tm | orbital distance of Pluto from Sun | ||
| ~ 7.5 ×109 km = 7.5 Tm | outer boundary of the Kuiper belt, inner boundary of the Oort cloud (~ 50 AU) | ||
| 1013 | 10 Tm | 15.91×109 km = 15.91 Tm | distance of the Voyager 1 spacecraft from sun (as of May 2008), the farthest man-made object so far [2] |
| 1014 | 100 Tm | ||
| 1015 | 1 petametre (Pm) | ~ 7.5 ×1012 km = 7.5 Pm | supposed outer boundary of the Oort cloud (~ 50,000 AU) |
| 9.46×1012 km = 9.46 Pm = 1 light year | distance travelled by light in one year; at its current speed, Voyager 1 would need 17,500 years to travel this distance | ||
| 1016 | 10 Pm | 3.2616 light-years (3.08568×1016 m = 30.8568 Pm) | 1 parsec |
| 4.22 light-years = 39.9 Pm | distance to nearest star (Proxima Centauri) | ||
| 10.4 light-years = 98.4 Pm | as of September 2007, distance to nearest discovered extrasolar planet (Epsilon Eridani b) | ||
| 1017 | 100 Pm | 20.4 light-years = 193 Pm | as of September 2007, distance to nearest discovered extrasolar planet with potential to support life as we know it (Gliese 581 c) |
| 6.15×1017 m = 615 Pm = 65 light-years | approximate radius of humanity's radio bubble, caused by high-power TV broadcasts leaking through the atmosphere into outer space | ||
| 1018 | 1 exametre (Em) | 200 light-years = 1.9 Em | as of October 2007, distance to nearest discovered solar twin (HIP 56948), a star with properties virtually identical to our Sun [2] |
| 1019 | 10 Em | ||
| 1020 | 100 Em | 10,000 light-years | |
| 1021 | 1 zettametre (Zm) | 100,000 light-years | diameter of galactic disk of Milky Way Galaxy |
| 50 kiloparsecs | distance to SN 1987A, the most recent naked eye supernova | ||
| 52 kiloparsecs = 1.6×1021 m = 1.6 Zm | distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud (a dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way) | ||
| 54 kiloparsecs = 1.66 Zm | distance to the Small Magellanic Cloud (another dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way) | ||
| 1022 | 10 Zm | 22.3 Zm = 2.36 million light-years = 725 kiloparsecs | distance to Andromeda Galaxy |
| 50 Zm (1.6 Mpc) | diameter of Local Group of galaxies | ||
| 1023 | 100 Zm | 300–600 Zm = 10–20 megaparsecs | distance to Virgo cluster of galaxies |
| 1024 | 1 yottametre (Ym) | 200 million light-years = 2 Ym = 60 megaparsecs | diameter of the Local Supercluster |
| 500 million light-years = 5 Ym = 150 megaparsecs | |||
| 1025 | 10 Ym | ||
| 1026 | 100 Ym | 1×1010 light-years = 1026 m = 100 Ym | estimated light travel distance to certain quasars |
| 92×109 light years = 9.2×1026 m = 920 Ym | approx. diameter (comoving distance) of the visible universe | ||
| 1053 | 1×1029 Ym | 1×1037 light years | approx. size of the entire (non-visible) universe / according to cosmic inflation theory. |
See also
- Powers of Ten, a 1977 short documentary film which depicts the relative scale of the Universe in factors of ten.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The exact category (asteroid/dwarf planet/planet) to which particular solar system objects belong, has been subject to some revision since the discovery of extrasolar planets and trans-Neptunian objects
- ↑ Shiga, David. Sun's 'twin' an ideal hunting ground for alien life. New Scientist. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
External links
- Secret Worlds: The Universe Within, a Java animation which presents the notion of scale from the galaxy (10 millions light years, 1023 m) to the quark (100 attometres, 10−16 m); Molecular Expressions, State University of Florida
- Powers of Ten Travel across the Universe. Altering perspective by changing scale by just a few powers of ten (interactive)cs:Řádová velikost (délka)
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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
