Wa to Angstrom Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert wa to angstroms with our free online length converter.
Wa to Angstrom Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Wa).
- The converted value in Angstrom 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 Wa to Angstrom
Converting Wa to Angstrom involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Wa = 2.0000e+10 angstromsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 wa: 10 × 2.0000e+10 = 2.0000e+11 angstroms
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 Wa and a Angstrom?
The Wa (วา) is a traditional Thai unit of length. It is legally defined in relation to the metric system as exactly 2 meters.
The Wa serves as a fundamental unit within the traditional Thai system of measurement, particularly for land area. It is roughly equivalent to the distance between a person's outstretched fingertips when their arms are extended horizontally to the sides (similar to a fathom).
The Angstrom (symbol Å) is a non-SI unit of length equal to exactly 10⁻¹⁰ meters (one ten-billionth of a meter) or 0.1 nanometers (nm). While not part of the modern International System of Units (SI), it remains widely used in various scientific fields due to its convenient scale for atomic and molecular dimensions. It provides a direct way to express sizes at the sub-nanometer level without resorting to fractions or powers of ten for nanometers.
Note: The Wa is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Angstrom belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Wa and Angstrom
The Wa has been used in Thailand (formerly Siam) for centuries, likely originating from anthropomorphic measurements like the arm span. It was a practical unit for everyday measurements, construction, and land surveying.
- Traditional System: The Wa was part of a system that included smaller units like the khuep (span, ~25 cm), sok (cubit, ~50 cm, 1 Wa = 4 Sok), and larger units like the sen (rope, 1 Sen = 20 Wa).
- Standardization: During the modernization reforms under King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Thailand began standardizing its weights and measures. The Weights and Measures Act of 1923 formally defined traditional units in terms of the metric system. The Wa was officially set at exactly 2 meters.
- Metrication: While Thailand officially adopted the metric system as its primary standard, traditional units like the Wa remain legally defined and widely used, especially in specific contexts like land measurement.
The Angstrom unit is named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström (1814–1874), one of the founders of the science of spectroscopy. Ångström used this unit in 1868 to create a chart of the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in sunlight, expressing them as multiples of 10⁻¹⁰ meters. This scale proved extremely convenient for expressing atomic radii, chemical bond lengths, and the wavelengths of X-rays. Although the nanometer (nm) and picometer (pm) are the preferred SI units for these scales today, the Angstrom's historical prevalence means it persists in many scientific disciplines, particularly in crystallography, atomic physics, and chemistry literature.
Common Uses for wa and angstroms
Explore the typical applications for both Wa (imperial/US) and Angstrom (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for wa
The Wa's most significant modern use is in land measurement, but it historically had broader applications:
- Land Area: This is the most common contemporary use. Land area in Thailand is almost exclusively measured in Tarang Wa (ตารางวา - Square Wa).
- 1 Tarang Wa = 4 square meters (2m x 2m)
- 1 Ngan (งาน) = 100 Tarang Wa (400 sq m)
- 1 Rai (ไร่) = 4 Ngan = 400 Tarang Wa (1600 sq m) Property deeds, real estate listings, and land surveys invariably use Rai, Ngan, and Tarang Wa.
- Length Measurement: While meters are now standard for most length measurements (textiles, construction materials), the Wa might still be used informally or in traditional contexts. Historically, it was used for measuring distances, building dimensions, rope lengths, etc.
- Construction & Architecture: Traditionally used for laying out building plots and determining dimensions in Thai architecture.
- Cultural Context: Understanding the Wa and its related area units is essential for navigating real estate, agriculture, and historical contexts in Thailand.
Common Uses for angstroms
The Angstrom is frequently used to measure dimensions at the atomic scale:
- Atomic Radii: Expressing the size of atoms (e.g., the covalent radius of a carbon atom is about 0.77 Å).
- Chemical Bond Lengths: Measuring the distance between nuclei in molecules (e.g., the O-H bond length in water is about 0.96 Å).
- Crystallography: Describing the dimensions of crystal lattices and the spacing between atomic planes, often determined using X-ray diffraction.
- Spectroscopy: Specifying the wavelengths of X-rays and some ultraviolet light.
- Microscopy: Measuring features in electron microscopy images.
- Integrated Circuits: Sometimes used historically or informally to describe feature sizes in semiconductor manufacturing, although nanometers are now standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Wa (wa)
How long is a Wa?
A Wa is defined as exactly:
- 2 meters (m)
- 200 centimeters (cm)
- Approximately 6.5617 feet (ft)
- Approximately 78.74 inches (in)
What are the related traditional Thai length units?
The Wa fits into a system, often based on factors of 2 and 10:
- Smaller Units:
- 1 Wa = 4 Sok (ศอก - cubit, ~50 cm)
- 1 Sok = 2 Khuep (คืบ - span, ~25 cm)
- 1 Khuep = 12 Nio (นิ้ว - finger breadth, ~2.08 cm, not the English inch)
- Larger Unit:
- 1 Sen (เส้น - rope/chain) = 20 Wa (40 meters)
- 1 Yot (โยชน์ - league) = 400 Sen (16 kilometers)
How is the Wa used for area measurement?
The primary unit for land area is the Tarang Wa (Square Wa):
- 1 Tarang Wa = 1 Wa × 1 Wa = 2 m × 2 m = 4 square meters Larger area units are based on the Tarang Wa:
- 1 Ngan = 100 Tarang Wa (400 m²)
- 1 Rai = 4 Ngan = 400 Tarang Wa (1600 m²)
- (For reference, 1 Acre ≈ 2.53 Rai, 1 Hectare = 6.25 Rai)
Is the Wa an SI unit?
No, the Wa is not an SI unit. It is a traditional Thai unit, although its legal definition is based on the SI unit, the meter (m).
Is the Wa still used today?
Yes, absolutely. While the metric system is the official standard for science, commerce, and industry, the Wa (especially as Tarang Wa for area) remains the standard unit for land measurement in Thailand. It is legally recognized and used in all official land documents and real estate transactions. Its use for linear measurement is less common but may still occur informally or in traditional settings.
About Angstrom (Å)
How many Angstroms are in a meter?
There are 10,000,000,000 (ten billion) Angstroms in one meter (1 m = 10¹⁰ Å). Conversely, 1 Angstrom = 10⁻¹⁰ meters.
How many Angstroms are in a nanometer?
There are exactly 10 Angstroms (Å) in one nanometer (nm). Therefore, 1 Å = 0.1 nm.
Is the Angstrom an SI unit?
No, the Angstrom is not part of the International System of Units (SI). The official SI unit for length at this scale is the nanometer (nm) (10⁻⁹ m) or the picometer (pm) (10⁻¹² m). 1 Å = 100 pm.
Why is the Angstrom still used if it's not an SI unit?
The Angstrom persists due to historical convention and its convenient size for atomic-scale measurements. Many scientific fields, like crystallography and atomic physics, developed using the Angstrom, and much historical data and literature use it. Its scale (0.1 nm) often allows for expressing atomic dimensions as numbers close to unity without decimals or exponents, which can be convenient.
What fields commonly use Angstroms?
The Angstrom remains common in:
- Crystallography: Describing crystal structures and diffraction patterns.
- Atomic Physics: Measuring atomic radii and energy level transitions.
- Chemistry: Specifying molecular bond lengths and structures.
- Spectroscopy: Particularly for X-ray wavelengths.
- Materials Science: Characterizing thin films and nanostructures.
- Structural Biology: Describing protein and nucleic acid structures.
Conversion Table: Wa to Angstrom
| Wa (wa) | Angstrom (Å) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 20,000,000,000 |
| 5 | 100,000,000,000 |
| 10 | 200,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 500,000,000,000 |
| 50 | 1,000,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 2,000,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 10,000,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 20,000,000,000,000 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- 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)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)