Micrometre
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A micrometre (µm) is a unit of distance equivalent to 1/1000,000th of a metre.
About Micrometres
- Micrometres are shortened to the greek letter µ and a lower case m.
- Micrometres can be used for the size of cells.
Converting to Micrometres
| Unit | To convert | Micrometres |
| 1 Megametre (1Mm) | Convert to micrometres x1000,000,000,000. | 1000,000,000,000µm |
| 1 kilometre (1km) | Convert to micrometres x1000,000,000. | 1000,000,000µm |
| 1 metre (1m) | Convert to micrometres x1000,000. | 1,000,000µm |
| 1 millimetre 1(mm) | Convert to micrometres x1,000. | 1000µm |
| 1 micrometre 1(µm) | Convert to micrometres x1. | 1µm |
| 1 centimetre 1(cm) | Convert to micrometres x10,000. | 10,000µm |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Micrometres (µm) are a unit of distance, displacement and wavelength 1,000,000 times smaller than the SI Unit; the Metre.
About Micrometres
- Micrometres are shortened to µm with the Greek letter µ and a lower case m.
- Micro means one millionth so there are 1,000,000 micrometres in a Metre.
Converting to Micrometres
| Unit | To convert | Micrometres |
| 1 megametre (1Mm) | Convert to micrometres x1012 | 1x1012 µm |
| 1 kilometre (1km) | Convert to micrometres x109 | 1x109 µm |
| 1 Metre (1m) | Convert to micrometres x106 | 1x106 µm |
| 1 decimetre 1(dm) | Convert to micrometres x105 | 1x105µm |
| 1 centimetre 1(mm) | Convert to micrometres x104 | 1x104µm |
| 1 millimetre 1(mm) | Convert to micrometres x103 | 1x103 µm |
| 1 micrometre 1(µm) | Convert to micrometres x1 | 1µm |
| 1 nanometre 1(nm) | Convert to micrometres x10-3 | 1x10-3 µm |
References
AQA
- Micrometer, page 87, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Micrometers, page 104, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Micrometers, page 231, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Micrometers, page 233, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Micrometers, page 327, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Micrometre, page 88, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA