Light Year to Decimeter Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert light years to decimeters with our free online length converter.
Light Year to Decimeter Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Light Year).
- The converted value in Decimeter will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Light Year to Decimeter
Converting Light Year to Decimeter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Light Year = 9.4610e+16 decimetersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 light years: 10 × 9.4610e+16 = 9.4610e+17 decimeters
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Light Year and a Decimeter?
A light-year is a unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance that light travels in one Julian year in a vacuum (approximately 9.461 trillion kilometers or 5.879 trillion miles).
The decimeter (symbol: dm) is a unit of length in the metric system. It is defined as exactly one-tenth (1/10) of a meter, which is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Therefore, 1 meter equals 10 decimeters.
Note: The Light Year is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Decimeter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Light Year and Decimeter
The concept was first used by Friedrich Bessel in 1838 when measuring the distance to the star 61 Cygni.
The decimeter originates from the French Revolution era, when the metric system was developed and introduced in France in the 1790s. The system aimed to create a rational and universal standard of measurement based on decimal multiples and submultiples of base units. The prefix "deci-" signifies a factor of one-tenth (10⁻¹). While the meter became the standard, the decimeter was defined as a convenient subdivision.
Common Uses for light years and decimeters
Explore the typical applications for both Light Year (imperial/US) and Decimeter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for light years
- Measuring distances to stars and galaxies
- Expressing the vast scale of the universe in astronomy
Common Uses for decimeters
Although less frequently used in everyday measurements compared to the meter, centimeter, or millimeter, the decimeter finds application in certain contexts:
- Education: Often used in schools to teach the metric system and decimal relationships (10 dm = 1 m, 1 dm = 10 cm).
- Crafts and Sewing: Sometimes used for measuring fabric or materials where increments of 10 centimeters are practical.
- Scientific Fields: Occasionally used in specific scientific measurements or contexts where this scale is convenient.
- Volume: The cubic decimeter (dm³) is a very common unit of volume, as it is exactly equal to one liter (L). This link makes the decimeter conceptually important in understanding metric volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Light Year (ly)
Is a light-year a unit of time or distance?
A light-year (ly) is a unit of distance, not time. It represents the distance light travels in one year.
How far is a light-year in kilometers and miles?
One light-year is approximately 9.461 trillion kilometers (9.461 x 10^12 km) or 5.879 trillion miles (5.879 x 10^12 mi).
What is the closest star to Earth in light-years?
Excluding the Sun, the closest star system to Earth is Alpha Centauri, which is about 4.37 light-years away.
About Decimeter (dm)
How many decimeters are in a meter?
There are exactly 10 decimeters in 1 meter.
How many centimeters are in a decimeter?
There are exactly 10 centimeters in 1 decimeter.
How many millimeters are in a decimeter?
There are exactly 100 millimeters in 1 decimeter (since 1 dm = 10 cm and 1 cm = 10 mm).
How do you convert decimeters to inches?
To convert decimeters to inches, multiply the number of decimeters by approximately 3.93701. For example, 2 dm is about 2 * 3.93701 = 7.874 inches.
Is the decimeter commonly used?
The decimeter is not as commonly used in everyday language or general measurements as meters, centimeters, or even millimeters. However, it is a standard metric unit and is particularly important conceptually due to the cubic decimeter being equal to a liter.
What is a cubic decimeter?
A cubic decimeter (dm³) is a unit of volume equal to the volume of a cube with sides one decimeter (10 cm) long. It is exactly equivalent to 1 liter (L).
Conversion Table: Light Year to Decimeter
| Light Year (ly) | Decimeter (dm) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 94,610,000,000,000,000 |
| 5 | 473,050,000,000,000,000 |
| 10 | 946,100,000,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 2,365,250,000,000,000,000 |
| 50 | 4,730,500,000,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 9,461,000,000,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 47,305,000,000,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 94,610,000,000,000,000,000 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)