Convert wavelength in nanometres [nm] to wavelength in metres [m] Online | Free frequency-wavelength Converter

Measuring Light and Electromagnetic Waves

A nanometre (nm) is a unit of length equal to one billionth of a metre (1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m) and is commonly used to express wavelengths of light and other electromagnetic waves. In this context, nanometres provide a convenient scale for describing phenomena that occur at the atomic and molecular level. Visible light, for example, spans wavelengths from about 380 nm (violet) to 750 nm (red). Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths, typically between 10 nm and 400 nm, while infrared (IR) light has longer wavelengths, from about 750 nm to 1,000,000 nm.

Wavelengths in nanometres are critical in fields like optics, photonics, spectroscopy, and nanotechnology. They determine the energy and color of light, how it interacts with matter, and how it can be manipulated in devices like lasers, fiber optics, and solar cells. Shorter wavelengths (in the UV or X-ray range) carry more energy and are used in applications such as medical imaging and semiconductor fabrication. Understanding and working with wavelengths in nanometres allows scientists and engineers to explore and control the behavior of light at extremely small scales—down to the size of atoms and molecules.

Measuring Long Electromagnetic Waves

The metre (m) is the standard SI unit of length and is widely used to express longer wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the radio wave portion of the spectrum. Wavelengths in the metre range correspond to frequencies from about 3 MHz to 300 MHz, covering parts of the VHF (Very High Frequency) and HF (High Frequency) bands. Common applications include AM and FM radio broadcasting, marine and aviation communication, shortwave radio, and amateur (ham) radio.

For example, an AM radio station transmitting at 1 MHz has a wavelength of 300 metres, while FM radio at 100 MHz corresponds to a 3-metre wavelength. These long wavelengths can travel great distances, diffract around obstacles, and reflect off the ionosphere, making them ideal for long-range communication.

Using metres to describe wavelength is particularly helpful in large-scale systems like radio towers and antennas, where antenna size often relates directly to a fraction of the wavelength. Understanding wavelengths in metres allows engineers and technicians to design effective communication systems, optimize signal coverage, and analyze wave behavior over long distances.