Nanosecond (ns) - Unit Information & Conversion
What is a Nanosecond?
Definition
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.
History
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
- 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.
Unit FAQs
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.
Nanosecond Conversion Formulas
To Second:
To Minute:
To Hour:
To Day:
To Week:
To Month:
To Year:
To Millisecond:
To Microsecond:
To Decade:
To Century:
To Millennium:
To Fortnight:
To Planck Time:
To Shake:
To Sidereal Day:
To Sidereal Year:
Convert Nanosecond
Need to convert Nanosecond to other time units? Use our conversion tool.