Week to Shake Converter
Convert weeks to shakes with our free online time converter.
Quick Answer
1 Week = 6.048000e+13 shakes
Formula: Week × conversion factor = Shake
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Week to Shake Calculator
How to Use the Week to Shake Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Week).
- 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 Week to Shake: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Week to Shake involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Week = 6.0480e+13 shakesExample Calculation:
Convert 60 weeks: 60 × 6.0480e+13 = 3.6288e+15 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.
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View all Time conversions →What is a Week and a Shake?
The week (symbol: wk or w) is a unit of time equal to 7 days, 168 hours, or 10,080 minutes.
Official status: The week is not an SI unit, but it is accepted for use with the SI due to its universal cultural importance. The SI base unit of time is the second, and the day is the fundamental accepted non-SI unit.
Standard conversions:
- 1 week = 7 days (exact)
- 1 week = 168 hours (7 × 24)
- 1 week = 10,080 minutes (7 × 24 × 60)
- 1 week = 604,800 seconds (7 × 24 × 60 × 60)
- 1 year ≈ 52.14 weeks (365 ÷ 7)
- 1 month ≈ 4.35 weeks (30 ÷ 7)
The 7-day structure: The week consists of seven consecutive days, typically organized as:
International (Monday-first) convention:
- Monday (Moon's day) - Start of work week
- Tuesday (Tiw's day, Norse god of war)
- Wednesday (Woden's day, Odin)
- Thursday (Thor's day, god of thunder)
- Friday (Frigg's day, goddess of love)
- Saturday (Saturn's day)
- Sunday (Sun's day) - Traditional day of rest
US (Sunday-first) convention:
- Sunday considered first day of the week on US calendars
- Work week runs Monday-Friday
- Weekend is Saturday-Sunday
ISO 8601 standard:
- Monday is officially day 1 of the week
- Sunday is day 7
- Week numbering: Week 1 contains first Thursday of year
Workweek vs. weekend:
- Workweek/weekdays: Monday-Friday (5 days) in Western tradition
- Weekend: Saturday-Sunday (2 days) in Western tradition
- Varies by culture: Friday-Saturday in Muslim countries, Sunday only historically
Why 7 days, not 5, 8, or 10? Unlike the day (Earth rotation) or year (orbital period), the week has no astronomical basis. It's purely a human cultural construct that gained universal adoption through:
- Ancient Babylonian astronomy (7 visible celestial bodies)
- Jewish religious tradition (Genesis creation, Sabbath commandment)
- Christian adoption and spread (Sunday worship)
- Islamic adoption (Friday as holy day)
- Roman Empire standardization (321 CE Constantine decree)
- Deep cultural entrenchment making change impractical
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 Week 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 Week and Shake
of the Week
Ancient Babylonian Origins (c. 2000-1000 BCE)
The 7-day week's roots lie in ancient Mesopotamian astronomy and astrology:
Babylonian astronomy:
-
Observed seven "wandering stars" (planets) visible to naked eye:
- Sun (Shamash) - brightest object
- Moon (Sin) - most obviously changing
- Mercury (Nabu) - messenger god
- Venus (Ishtar) - morning/evening star
- Mars (Nergal) - red planet, war god
- Jupiter (Marduk) - king of gods
- Saturn (Ninurta) - slow-moving
-
Each celestial body "ruled" one day
-
Seven was considered mystical/sacred number
-
Used in astrological predictions and religious rituals
Why 7 was special:
- Seven visible "planets" (including Sun and Moon)
- Seven days between moon phases (~7.4 days per quarter)
- Mathematical: 7 is prime, making it special
- Religious significance in Near Eastern cultures
Note: The moon's phases (29.5 days ÷ 4 ≈ 7.4 days) may have influenced the 7-day cycle, though it doesn't align perfectly.
Jewish Religious Codification (c. 1500-500 BCE)
The Hebrew Bible (Torah) embedded the 7-day week in religious law:
Genesis creation narrative (Genesis 1:1-2:3):
- Day 1: Light and darkness
- Day 2: Sky and waters
- Day 3: Land, seas, plants
- Day 4: Sun, moon, stars
- Day 5: Fish and birds
- Day 6: Land animals and humans
- Day 7: God rested → Sabbath (Shabbat)
Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11):
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God."
Sabbath observance:
- Saturday (7th day) as mandatory day of rest
- No work permitted (cooking, travel, commerce)
- Synagogue worship and family meals
- Violations carried severe penalties (death in ancient times)
- Core to Jewish identity for 3,000+ years
Jewish week structure:
- Days numbered: Yom Rishon (Day 1) through Yom Shishi (Day 6)
- Only Shabbat (Sabbath, Day 7) has a name
- Week begins Saturday evening (sunset) and ends following Saturday sunset
Greek and Roman Adoption (300 BCE - 400 CE)
Greek influence:
- Hellenistic astronomers (post-Alexander) adopted Babylonian astrology
- Each day associated with a planet/deity
- Week spread through Greek-speaking world
- Ptolemy's astrology (2nd century CE) codified planetary hours and days
Roman nundinal cycle (753 BCE - 321 CE):
- Romans initially used 8-day market week (nundinae)
- Days labeled A through H
- Markets held every 8th day
- Used for agricultural and commercial scheduling
Planetary week adoption (1st-3rd century CE):
- 7-day planetary week entered Rome from Near East
- Coexisted with 8-day nundinal cycle
- Gradually replaced nundinal week for religious/astrological reasons
- Days named after planets/gods:
- Dies Solis (Sun) → Sunday
- Dies Lunae (Moon) → Monday
- Dies Martis (Mars) → Tuesday (Tiw = Germanic Mars)
- Dies Mercurii (Mercury) → Wednesday (Woden = Germanic Mercury)
- Dies Jovis (Jupiter) → Thursday (Thor = Germanic Jupiter)
- Dies Veneris (Venus) → Friday (Frigg = Germanic Venus)
- Dies Saturni (Saturn) → Saturday
Constantine's decree (321 CE):
- Emperor Constantine I officially recognized the 7-day week
- Declared Sunday (Dies Solis) a day of rest
- Aligned with Christian practice (resurrection day)
- Marked official end of nundinal cycle
- Made 7-day week legal standard across Roman Empire
Christian Transformation (1st-5th century CE)
Early Christian practice:
- Jewish Christians initially observed Saturday Sabbath
- Gradually shifted to Sunday (Dies Dominica, "Lord's Day")
- Commemorated Jesus's resurrection (Sunday morning)
- Sunday worship established by 100 CE
Christian week structure:
- Sunday: Lord's Day, primary worship
- Monday-Saturday: Workdays
- No Sabbath work prohibition (unlike Judaism)
- Sunday rest became custom, not religious law initially
Church influence:
- Constantine's decree (321 CE) made Sunday official rest day
- Christian terminology replaced pagan planet names in some languages:
- Portuguese: Domingo (Sunday = Lord's Day), Segunda-feira (Monday = Second day)
- Some Slavic languages: similar pattern
- Christian calendar organized around Sunday as "first day of week" (Western tradition)
Medieval Christian week:
- Elaborate liturgical calendar
- Different saints' days on specific weekdays
- Friday fasting (commemorating crucifixion)
- Sunday mandatory Mass attendance
- Week structured around religious observances
Islamic Adoption (7th century CE)
Islamic week (al-usbūʿ):
- Adopted existing 7-day week structure
- Friday (Jumu'ah) designated as day of congregational prayer
- Not a "day of rest" like Sabbath/Sunday—work permitted
- Friday midday prayer (Jumu'ah prayer) mandatory for men
Islamic day names:
- Days numbered similar to Hebrew tradition
- Saturday: Yawm as-Sabt (Day of the Sabbath—Hebrew influence)
- Sunday: Yawm al-Ahad (First day)
- Monday: Yawm al-Ithnayn (Second day)
- ...
- Friday: Yawm al-Jumu'ah (Day of Congregation)
Spread of Islamic week:
- Islamic expansion (7th-15th centuries) spread 7-day week to:
- North Africa
- Middle East
- Central Asia
- Parts of Southeast Asia
- Reinforced 7-day week as global standard
Global Standardization (1500-1900)
European colonialism:
- Spanish, Portuguese, French, British empires spread 7-day week
- Christian Sunday observance imposed in colonies
- Replaced indigenous time-keeping systems:
- Aztec 13-day and 20-day cycles
- Mayan complex calendar system
- Various Asian lunar-based systems
East Asia adoption:
- China: Adopted 7-day week in early 20th century (previously used 10-day xún divisions)
- Japan: Officially adopted 7-day week in 1873 during Meiji Restoration
- Korea: Adopted with modernization in late 19th/early 20th century
International commerce:
- Global trade required synchronized schedules
- Shipping and maritime schedules used 7-day week
- Telegraph and later telecommunications standardized weekly communications
Failed Reform Attempts
Despite universal adoption, several attempts to "improve" the week failed:
1. French Revolutionary Calendar (1793-1805):
- Replaced 7-day week with 10-day décade
- Aligned with metric system (10 days per week, 3 weeks per month)
- Days numbered Primidi through Décadi
- Only Décadi was rest day (1 in 10 vs. 1 in 7)
- Failed because:
- Less frequent rest days unpopular with workers
- Conflicted with Christian Sunday observance
- Disrupted social and family patterns
- Napoleon abolished it in 1805
2. Soviet 5-day and 6-day weeks (1929-1940):
-
1929-1931: 5-day "continuous week"
- Days numbered 1-5
- Each worker got one of five days off (rotating)
- Goal: Continuous factory production
- Problem: Families/friends couldn't synchronize time off
-
1931-1940: 6-day week
- Days numbered 1-6
- Day 6 was universal rest day
- Goal: Improve on 5-day system
- Problem: Still disrupted religious observance, traditional patterns
-
1940: Return to 7-day week
- Abandoned experiments
- Restored traditional Sunday rest
- 7-day week too culturally embedded to change
3. International Fixed Calendar (1923-present, never adopted):
- Proposed by Moses B. Cotsworth
- 13 months of 28 days each (4 perfect weeks per month)
- Extra month called "Sol" between June and July
- One "Year Day" outside the weekly cycle
- Never adopted because:
- Would disrupt all existing calendars
- Breaking the continuous 7-day cycle unacceptable religiously
- Massive economic costs
- Resistance from established institutions
4. Other proposals:
- Decimal weeks (10 days)
- 5-day weeks (aligned with work week)
- 8-day weeks (better divides into month)
- All failed: Cultural inertia too strong
Modern Universal Adoption
Current status:
- All 195+ countries use the 7-day week
- Synchronized globally despite cultural differences
- ISO 8601 standard (Monday = day 1, week 1 contains first Thursday)
- Different weekend patterns:
- Saturday-Sunday: Most of world (Christian tradition)
- Friday-Saturday: Many Muslim countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE until 2022)
- Friday only: Iran
- Sunday only: Historical in some countries
Why 7-day week succeeded:
- Religious universality: Judaism, Christianity, Islam all use 7-day week
- Ancient origins: 3,000+ years of continuity
- Global colonization: European powers spread it worldwide
- Economic integration: International commerce requires synchronization
- Cultural entrenchment: Too deeply embedded to change
- Mathematical convenience: Fits reasonably with months (4-5 weeks)
- Work-rest balance: 5-2 or 6-1 work-rest ratio culturally accepted
Modern cultural significance:
- Phrase "work week" universal
- "Weekend" concept global (even if different days)
- Weekly planning horizon standard
- Pay periods often weekly or bi-weekly
- Television programming on weekly schedules
- Religious observances every 7 days
- Social rhythms organized weekly
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 and Applications: weeks vs shakes
Explore the typical applications for both Week (imperial/US) and Shake (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for weeks
When to Use 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.
Additional Unit Information
About Week (wk)
How many days are in a week?
Exactly 7 days in every week, universally across all cultures and countries worldwide.
This has been standard for over 2,000 years, originating from:
- Ancient Babylonian astronomy (7 visible celestial bodies)
- Jewish religious tradition (Genesis 7-day creation + Sabbath)
- Roman adoption and global spread
The 7-day week has no astronomical basis (unlike day or year) but achieved universal cultural adoption.
How many hours are in a week?
Exactly 168 hours in one week.
Calculation: 7 days × 24 hours/day = 168 hours
Context:
- Work week: 40 hours (standard full-time) out of 168 total
- Sleep: 56 hours per week (8 hours/night × 7 nights)
- Leisure: 168 - 40 (work) - 56 (sleep) = 72 hours
- Work-life balance: Only ~24% of week spent working (40/168)
Why does a week have 7 days?
The 7-day week has cultural and religious origins, not astronomical:
Three main reasons:
-
Babylonian astronomy (c. 2000 BCE):
- Seven visible "planets": Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
- Each day dedicated to one celestial body
- Seven considered sacred number
-
Jewish religious tradition (c. 1500 BCE):
- Genesis: God created world in 6 days, rested on 7th (Sabbath)
- Fourth Commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day"
- Embedded in religious law for 3,000+ years
-
Global adoption:
- Christianity spread Sunday worship (resurrection day)
- Islam adopted 7-day week with Friday prayers
- Roman Empire standardized it (321 CE Constantine decree)
- Colonial expansion made it universal
Why not 5, 8, or 10 days? All attempts to change it failed (French 10-day, Soviet 5/6-day weeks) due to deep cultural and religious entrenchment.
How many weeks are in a year?
52.14 weeks in a standard 365-day year.
Calculation: 365 days ÷ 7 days/week = 52.14 weeks (52 weeks + 1 day)
More precisely:
- Common year (365 days): 52 weeks + 1 day
- Leap year (366 days): 52 weeks + 2 days
Practical implications:
- 52 "full weeks" per year
- Extra 1-2 days cause annual calendar drift
- Same date falls on different day of week each year
ISO week-numbering:
- Most years: Weeks 1-52
- Some years: Weeks 1-53 (when year has 53 Thursdays)
What is a work week?
A work week is the 5-day period from Monday-Friday when most businesses operate, totaling 40 hours (8 hours/day × 5 days) in the US standard.
Work week structure:
- Weekdays: Monday-Friday (5 days) - work/school days
- Weekend: Saturday-Sunday (2 days) - rest days
- 5-2 split: 5 days work, 2 days rest
Hours:
- US full-time: 40 hours per week standard
- France: 35 hours per week legal standard
- Part-time: 20-30 hours per week
- Overwork: 50-60+ hours per week
Variations:
- 4-day work week: Emerging trend (32-40 hours over 4 days)
- 6-day work week: Historical standard, still common in some countries
- Muslim countries: Friday-Saturday weekend (work Sunday-Thursday)
Origins:
- Industrial Revolution: Standardized factory schedules
- Labor movements: Won 5-day, 40-hour week (1926-1940 in US)
- Henry Ford: Pioneered 5-day, 40-hour week (1926)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (1938): Codified 40-hour week in US
What is the weekend?
The weekend is the 2-day period of rest at the end of the work week, typically Saturday and Sunday in Western countries.
Weekend structure:
- Saturday: First day off
- Sunday: Second day off, traditional Christian day of worship
- Purpose: Rest, recreation, family time, errands
Global variations:
- Western countries: Saturday-Sunday (majority of world)
- Muslim countries: Friday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday (historically)
- Saudi Arabia, UAE: Switched to Saturday-Sunday in 2022
- Iran: Friday only
- Israel: Friday-Saturday (aligns with Jewish Sabbath)
- Brunei, Bangladesh: Friday-Saturday
Origins:
- Jewish Sabbath: Saturday rest day (biblical commandment)
- Christian Sunday: Lord's Day (resurrection observance)
- Industrial era: Originally only Sunday off
- 1920s-1940s: Saturday added, creating "weekend"
- Labor advocacy: "Saturday half-day" became full day off
Cultural significance:
- "Thank God It's Friday" (TGIF)
- "Weekend warrior" (active on weekends)
- "Monday blues" (dreading return to work)
- Weekend social events, sports, entertainment
How many weeks are in a month?
Approximately 4.35 weeks in an average month.
Calculation:
- Average month = 30.44 days (365 ÷ 12)
- 30.44 days ÷ 7 days/week = 4.35 weeks
Actual variation:
- February: 4.0 weeks (28 days), 4.14 weeks (29 days, leap year)
- 30-day months: 4.29 weeks (April, June, September, November)
- 31-day months: 4.43 weeks (January, March, May, July, August, October, December)
Why not exactly 4 weeks?
- 4 weeks = 28 days
- Most months = 30-31 days
- 2-3 days "extra" per month
Implications:
- "Monthly" ≠ "every 4 weeks"
- Monthly salary ≠ 4 weekly salaries
- Rent is monthly (12 times/year), not 4-weekly (13 times/year)
What is a fortnight?
A fortnight is a period of 14 days or 2 weeks.
Origin:
- Old English: fēowertīene niht = "fourteen nights"
- Common in British English
- Less common in American English
Usage:
- UK: "I'll see you in a fortnight" (2 weeks from now)
- Australia/New Zealand: Common term
- Pay periods: "Fortnightly pay" = paid every 2 weeks
- Planning: "Fortnight holiday" = 2-week vacation
Related terms:
- Bi-weekly: Every 2 weeks (26 times per year)
- Semi-monthly: Twice per month (24 times per year)
- Fortnight = bi-weekly interval, not semi-monthly
Why do weekends exist?
Weekends exist due to religious tradition and labor reform:
Religious origins:
- Jewish Sabbath: Saturday rest day (biblical commandment, ~3,000 years old)
- Christian Sunday: Lord's Day, resurrection observance (2,000 years old)
- Both religions mandate one day of rest per week
Industrial era (1800s-1900s):
- Initially: 6-day work week, only Sunday off (Christian influence)
- Workers labored Monday-Saturday, 10-16 hours per day
- Exhausting, no family time
Labor reform (1900s):
- 1908: First 5-day work week proposed
- 1926: Henry Ford adopted 5-day, 40-hour week (factory efficiency + consumer spending)
- 1929: Great Depression led to work-sharing (reduce hours to employ more)
- 1938: Fair Labor Standards Act (US) established 40-hour week with overtime
- 1940: 5-day work week became US standard
Why 2-day weekend prevailed:
- Productivity: Workers more productive with adequate rest
- Consumer economy: Workers with free time spend money
- Family time: Social benefits
- Religious observance: Accommodates both Saturday (Jewish) and Sunday (Christian)
- Union advocacy: Labor movements fought for it
Modern trends:
- 4-day work week experiments (same hours, compressed)
- Flexible schedules: "Weekend" varies by individual
- Remote work blurs work-weekend boundaries
Can weeks start on different days?
Yes, weeks can start on either Sunday or Monday depending on cultural convention, though the 7-day cycle remains constant.
Two main systems:
1. Sunday-first (traditional Christian):
- Used in: United States, Canada, parts of Latin America
- Rationale: Sunday is the Lord's Day, "first day of week" in Christian tradition
- Calendars: US calendars show Sunday as leftmost column
- Biblical: Genesis creation starts with Sunday
2. Monday-first (ISO standard):
- Used in: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia (most of world)
- ISO 8601 standard: Monday = day 1, Sunday = day 7
- Rationale: Work week starts Monday, weekend (Saturday-Sunday) grouped together
- Calendars: International calendars show Monday as leftmost column
Which is "correct"?
- Both are valid cultural conventions
- ISO 8601 standardizes Monday-first for international business/computing
- Work week universally Monday-Friday regardless
Computing:
- Programming: ISO 8601 standard (Monday = 1)
- Excel/Google Sheets: Can be configured either way
- Date/time libraries: Often use ISO standard
Practical impact:
- Minimal—everyone uses same 7-day cycle
- Only affects calendar layout and "first day" reference
- "Weekend" always means Saturday-Sunday (or local equivalent)
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: Week to Shake
| Week (wk) | Shake (shake) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 30,240,000,000,000 |
| 1 | 60,480,000,000,000 |
| 1.5 | 90,720,000,000,000 |
| 2 | 120,960,000,000,000 |
| 5 | 302,400,000,000,000 |
| 10 | 604,800,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 1,512,000,000,000,000 |
| 50 | 3,024,000,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 6,048,000,000,000,000 |
| 250 | 15,120,000,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 30,240,000,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 60,480,000,000,000,000 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Week to Shake?
To convert Week to Shake, enter the value in Week in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our time converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Week to Shake?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Week and Shake. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Shake back to Week?
Yes! You can easily convert Shake back to Week by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Shake to Week converter page. You can also explore other time conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Week and Shake?
Week and Shake are both standard units used in time measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our time converter for more conversion options.
For more time conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Official time standards and definitions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — Definition of the SI base unit for time
Last verified: December 3, 2025