SI Prefixes Used with Units in Physics, Chemistry and Engineering
Below are shown the prefixes (factors) used with units in physics, chemistry and engineering. The symbol, the name, the corresponding factor as well as an example for each prefix are presented.
| Symbol | Name |
Factor | Example |
| y | yocto |
10-24
|
2 ym = 2 × 10-24 m = 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 002 meters
|
| z | zepto |
10-21
|
5 zm = 5 × 10-21 m = 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 005 meters
|
| a | atto |
10-18
|
4 am = 4 × 10-18 m = 0.000 000 000 000 000 004 meters
|
| f | femto |
10-15
|
5 fm = 5 × 10-15 m = 0.000 000 000 000 005 meters
|
| p | pico |
10-12
|
7 pF = 7 × 10-12 F = 0.000 000 000 007 farads
|
| n | nano |
10-9
|
5 nm = 5 × 10-9 m = 0.000 000 005 meters
|
| μ | micro |
10-6
|
6 μm = 6 × 10-6 m = 0.000 006 meters
|
| m | milli |
10-3
|
5 mm = 5 × 10-3 m = 0.005 meters
|
| c | centi |
10-2
|
4 cm = 4 × 10-2 m = 0.04 meters
|
| d | deci |
10-1
|
6 dm = 6 × 10-1 m = 0.6 meters
|
| da | deka | 10 | 2 dam = 2 × 10 m = 20 meters |
| h | hecto |
102
| 5 hl = 5 × 100 l = 500 liters |
| k | kilo |
103
|
1.6 kg = 1.6 × 103 g = 1600 grams
|
| M | Mega |
106
|
19 MW = 19 × 106 W = 19 000 000 Watts
|
| G | Giga |
109
|
3 GHz = 3 × 109 Hz = 3 000 000 000 Hertz
|
| T | Tera |
1012
|
2 TW = 2 × 1012 Watts = 2 000 000 000 000 Watts
|
| P | Peta |
1015
|
11 PHz = 3 × 1015 Hz = 11 000 000 000 000 000 Hertz
|
| E | Exa |
1018
|
4 Em = 4 × 1018 meters = 2 000 000 000 000 000 000 meters
|
| Z | Zeta |
1021
|
12 ZHz = 12 × 1021 Hz = 11 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 Hertz
|
| Y | Yota |
1024
|
21 Ym = 21 × 1024 meters = 2 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 meters
|
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