Femtometre (Noun)
Meaning
A metric unit of length equal to one quadrillionth of a meter.
Classification
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure.
Examples
- The diameter of a typical atomic nucleus is measured in femtometres, making them extremely difficult to study.
- Physicists often use femtometres to describe the distances between particles in high-energy collisions.
- Femtometres are smaller than the wavelength of most forms of electromagnetic radiation, which is why they're often difficult to measure.
- The distances between protons and neutrons within an atomic nucleus are usually several femtometres apart, governed by the strong nuclear force.
- Because femtometres are so tiny, scientists need to rely on mathematical models and indirect observations to study phenomena on this scale.