Microsecond (μs) - Unit Information & Conversion
What is a Microsecond?
Definition
A microsecond is a unit of time equal to one-millionth (1/1,000,000) of a second. It is also 1/1000th of a millisecond.
History
The microsecond is derived from the SI base unit, the second, using the metric prefix 'micro-', indicating a factor of 10⁻⁶. Its use became prevalent with the advent of electronic computers, radar technology, and high-speed photography.
Common Uses
- Computing: Measuring instruction execution times in older processors, interrupt latency, bus transfer times.
- Physics: Duration of certain chemical reactions, some nuclear events, timing in particle accelerators.
- Electronics: Defining pulse widths in digital signals, measuring signal delays in circuits.
- Biology: Duration of nerve impulses, time scale for certain enzymatic reactions.
- Everyday: The flash duration of a typical camera strobe is a few microseconds.
Unit FAQs
How many microseconds are in one second?
There are 1,000,000 (one million) microseconds in a second.
How many microseconds are in one millisecond?
There are 1,000 microseconds in a millisecond.
What does the symbol μs mean?
The symbol 'μ' (mu) is the Greek letter used as the metric prefix for micro (10⁻⁶), and 's' stands for second.
Microsecond Conversion Formulas
To Second:
To Minute:
To Hour:
To Day:
To Week:
To Month:
To Year:
To Millisecond:
To Nanosecond:
To Decade:
To Century:
To Millennium:
To Fortnight:
To Planck Time:
To Shake:
To Sidereal Day:
To Sidereal Year:
Convert Microsecond
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