picometre
Atom-scale length unit
A picometre is one trillionth of a metre (10⁻¹²), used primarily in atomic and molecular physics.
Atomic radii are typically measured in tens of picometres—a hydrogen atom is about 53 picometres across.
The scale is smaller than nanometres but larger than femtometres.
Also spelled picometer.
Element's smallest unit
- electronNegative subatomic particle
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- nucleusCentral controlling part
quark · gluon · lepton · boson · fermion · hadron · meson · baryon
Quantity approaching zero
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- subatomicSmaller than atoms
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- imperceptibleCannot be sensed
molecular · atomic · ultrafine · nanoscale · invisible · minute · tiny · submicroscopic
Subatomic length unit
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- quantum dotsNanoscale semiconductors with size-dependent properties
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
nanomaterials · nanoelectronics · quantum computing · nanofabrication · self-assembly
Subatomic length unit
- decimetreOne-tenth meter unit
- decametreTen-meter length unit
- light-yearAstronomical distance measure
- parsecInterstellar length measure
Measurement using wave combination patterns
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- electron microscopyImaging via focused particle beams
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
crystallography · metrology · synchrotron · mass spectrometry
atom
Element's smallest unit
nucleus · quark · gluon · lepton · boson · fermion · hadron · meson · baryon · subatomic
infinitesimal
Quantity approaching zero
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- subatomicSmaller than atoms
- minusculeExtremely small in size
imperceptible · molecular · atomic · ultrafine · nanoscale · invisible · minute · tiny · submicroscopic
angstrom
Subatomic length unit
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- quantum dotsNanoscale semiconductors with size-dependent properties
nanoparticles · nanomaterials · nanoelectronics · quantum computing · nanofabrication · self-assembly
angstrom
Subatomic length unit
- decimetreOne-tenth meter unit
- decametreTen-meter length unit
- light-yearAstronomical distance measure
interferometry
Measurement using wave combination patterns
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- electron microscopyImaging via focused particle beams
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
wavelength · crystallography · metrology · synchrotron · mass spectrometry
picometrelight-year
Astronomical distance measure
parsec · astronomical unit · kilometre · cosmic scale · mile