Shake to Nanosecond Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

Convert shakes to nanoseconds with our free online time converter.

From:

Shake

To:

Nanosecond

How to Use the Calculator:

Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Shake).
The converted value in Nanosecond 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 Shake to Nanosecond

Converting Shake to Nanosecond involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

1 Shake = 10 nanoseconds

Example Calculation:

Convert 60 shakes: 60 × 10 = 600 nanoseconds

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 Shake and a Nanosecond?

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.

A nanosecond is a unit of time equal to one-billionth (1/1,000,000,000) of a second. It is also 1/1000th of a microsecond.

Note: The Shake is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Nanosecond belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Shake and Nanosecond

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.

The nanosecond is derived from the SI base unit, the second, using the metric prefix 'nano-', indicating a factor of 10⁻⁹. Measurements at this timescale became necessary with the development of very high-speed computing, advanced physics, and optical communications.

Common Uses for shakes and nanoseconds

Explore the typical applications for both Shake (imperial/US) and Nanosecond (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

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.

Common Uses for nanoseconds

Computing: Measuring RAM access times, CPU clock cycles (e.g., a 3 GHz processor has a clock cycle of about 0.33 ns), L1/L2 cache access times.
Physics: Lifetimes of very short-lived particles, timing in nuclear reactions, duration of mode-locked laser pulses.
Electronics: Signal propagation time on circuit boards and integrated circuits. Light travels approximately 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) in one nanosecond in a vacuum.
Telecommunications: Timing in optical fiber communications.
Chemistry: Studying ultrafast chemical reactions using spectroscopy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions 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.

About Nanosecond (ns)

How many nanoseconds are in one second?

There are 1,000,000,000 (one billion) nanoseconds in a second.

How many nanoseconds are in one microsecond?

There are 1,000 nanoseconds in a microsecond.

How far does light travel in one nanosecond?

In a vacuum, light travels approximately 29.98 centimeters (about 0.98 feet) in one nanosecond.

Conversion Table: Shake to Nanosecond

Shake (shake)	Nanosecond (ns)
1	10
5	50
10	100
25	250
50	500
100	1,000
500	5,000
1,000	10,000

All Time Conversions

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