Decade to Shake Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert decades to shakes with our free online time converter.
Decade to Shake Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Decade).
- The converted value in Shake will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Time category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Decade to Shake
Converting Decade to Shake involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Decade = 3.1557e+16 shakesExample Calculation:
Convert 60 decades: 60 × 3.1557e+16 = 1.8934e+18 shakes
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 Decade and a Shake?
A decade is a unit of time equal to 10 consecutive years. It is commonly used to group years for historical, cultural, or statistical analysis, often referring to periods like the 1980s or 2010s.
A Shake is an informal unit of time equal to 10 nanoseconds (10 ns), or 10⁻⁸ seconds. It is primarily used in nuclear physics and astrophysics to measure the timing of events in nuclear reactions and related phenomena.
Note: The Decade is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Shake belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Decade and Shake
The term "decade" originates from the Ancient Greek word "dekas" (δέκας), meaning a group of ten, which passed into Latin as "decem" and then into English. Its application specifically to a ten-year period became standard alongside the development and use of calendar systems for tracking longer spans of time.
The term "Shake" originated during the Manhattan Project, the World War II effort to develop the first nuclear weapons. Nuclear chain reactions happen extremely quickly, and physicists needed a convenient, short unit of time to discuss the timing of events within these reactions. Ten nanoseconds was chosen as a practical order of magnitude for many processes involved. The name itself is informal, reputedly derived from the expression "two shakes of a lamb's tail," implying a very short duration.
Common Uses for decades and shakes
Explore the typical applications for both Decade (imperial/US) and Shake (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for decades
Decades are frequently used for:
- Historical periods: Referring to specific ten-year periods, typically starting with a year ending in '0' (e.g., the 1990s refers to the years 1990-1999).
- Trend analysis: Discussing cultural, social, economic, or political trends that characterize a ten-year span.
- Anniversaries: Marking significant anniversaries known as decennials (10th anniversaries).
- Data analysis: Grouping data in demographic studies, historical analysis, and long-term planning.
Common Uses for shakes
The Shake is almost exclusively used in specific technical fields:
- Nuclear Physics: Measuring the time intervals between successive neutron generations in a nuclear chain reaction.
- Astrophysics: Discussing timescales relevant to certain high-energy astrophysical events.
- Particle Physics: Occasionally used in experiments involving very short-lived particles or interactions.
- Laser Physics: Sometimes used in contexts involving very short laser pulses.
It is not used for everyday time measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Decade (dec)
How many years are in one decade?
A decade is defined as exactly 10 years.
How are decades typically named or referred to?
Decades are commonly referred to by the century and the tens digit of the years they encompass, such as "the 1980s" (1980-1989) or "the 2020s" (2020-2029). The first decade of a century (e.g., 2000-2009) is sometimes called "the noughties" or "the aughts".
Is the decade an SI unit?
No, the decade is not a unit within the International System of Units (SI). The base SI unit for time is the second. While widely used in historical and cultural contexts, scientific measurements typically use seconds, years (often Julian years for consistency), or larger multiples like kiloyears (kyr) or megayears (Myr).
About Shake (shake)
How long is a Shake in seconds?
One Shake is equal to 10 nanoseconds (10 ns), which is 10⁻⁸ seconds, or 0.00000001 seconds.
Where did the name "Shake" come from?
The name is an informal term coined during the Manhattan Project. It's believed to be a humorous reference to the phrase "in two shakes of a lamb's tail," signifying a very brief period, appropriate for the rapid events in nuclear reactions.
Is the Shake an SI unit?
No, the Shake is not part of the International System of Units (SI). The standard SI unit for time is the second (s). The Shake is a specialized, informal unit used within specific scientific communities for convenience.
Conversion Table: Decade to Shake
| Decade (dec) | Shake (shake) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 31,556,952,000,000,000 |
| 5 | 157,784,760,000,000,000 |
| 10 | 315,569,520,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 788,923,800,000,000,000 |
| 50 | 1,577,847,600,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 3,155,695,200,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 15,778,476,000,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 31,556,952,000,000,000,000 |