Second to Century Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert seconds to centuries with our free online time converter.
Second to Century Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Second).
- The converted value in Century 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 Second to Century
Converting Second to Century involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Second = 3.1689e-10 centuries
Example Calculation:
Convert 60 seconds: 60 × 3.1689e-10 = 1.9013e-8 centuries
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 Second and a Century?
The second is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined by taking the fixed numerical value of the caesium frequency ΔνCs, the unperturbed ground-state hyperfine transition frequency of the caesium-133 atom, to be 9,192,631,770 when expressed in the unit Hz, which is equal to s⁻¹.
A century is a unit of time equal to 100 consecutive years. It is widely used for marking long periods, especially in historical contexts and for discussing long-term trends.
Note: The Second is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Century belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Second and Century
Historically, the second was defined as 1/86,400 of a mean solar day. However, variations in the Earth's rotation led to the need for a more precise, constant definition. The atomic definition based on the caesium-133 atom was adopted in 1967.
The word "century" derives from the Latin "centum," meaning one hundred. In ancient Rome, a centuria was initially a military unit of about 100 soldiers. The application of the term to a period of 100 years became common with the development and standardization of calendar systems, particularly the Julian and Gregorian calendars, used for historical dating.
Common Uses for seconds and centuries
Explore the typical applications for both Second (imperial/US) and Century (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for seconds
- Base Unit: The fundamental unit for all time measurements in science, engineering, and daily life.
- Timing: Used universally for clocks, watches, timers, and scheduling.
- Physics: Essential in defining derived units like velocity (meters per second), acceleration (meters per second squared), frequency (Hertz, or cycles per second), and force (Newtons).
- Computing: Used as a base for measuring intervals, timeouts, and durations, although often subdivided into milliseconds, microseconds, or nanoseconds for finer measurements.
- Everyday Life: Counting heartbeats, measuring short durations, coordinating activities.
Common Uses for centuries
Centuries are primarily used for:
- Dating historical eras: (e.g., the 18th century refers to the years 1701-1800).
- Discussing long-term trends: Examining historical, cultural, social, or geological changes spanning multiple generations.
- Marking centennials: Celebrating significant 100th anniversaries.
- Grouping years: Organizing timelines in genealogy and long-term planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Second (s)
What is the base unit of time in the SI system?
The second (s) is the base unit of time.
Why is the second defined using atoms?
The atomic definition provides a much more stable and precise standard than relying on the Earth's rotation, which fluctuates slightly.
How many seconds are in a minute?
There are 60 seconds in a minute.
How many seconds are in an hour?
There are 3,600 seconds in an hour (60 seconds/minute * 60 minutes/hour).
About Century (c)
How many years are in a century?
A century is defined as exactly 100 years.
When did the 21st century begin?
Following the standard definition where centuries start with year '01, the 21st century began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100. This is because the calendar count started with year 1 AD, not year 0.
Is a century a standard unit in science?
While commonly understood, the century is not a base or derived unit within the International System of Units (SI). The SI unit for time is the second. Scientists typically use years (often specified as Julian years for consistency) or multiples like kiloyears (kyr) or megayears (Myr) for very long timescales.
Conversion Table: Second to Century
Second (s) | Century (c) |
---|---|
1 | 0 |
5 | 0 |
10 | 0 |
25 | 0 |
50 | 0 |
100 | 0 |
500 | 0 |
1,000 | 0 |