Multiples and sub-multiples, abbreviations and indices

The metre is the fundamental unit of length; for convenience we often use the term kilometre (greater than one metre- a multiple) or millimetre (less than one Metre- a sub-multiple). The same system is used with all electrical units.

Multiple

Sub-multiple

Abbreviation

Meaning

Example

giga

-

G

x109

GHz

mega

-

M

x106

MW

kilo

-

k

x103

kV

-

milli

m

x10-3

mA

-

micro

x10-6

H

-

nano

n

x10-9

ns

-

pico

p

x10-12

pF

With the exception of 'kilo', multiples use capital letters and sub-multiples small letters in the abbreviations.

103 means 'times 1000', i.e. 1 km = l000m; the index 3 indicates the number of places the decimal point must be moved to the right. Similarly 10-3 means 'divided by 1000', i.e. 1 mm = 0.001 m; the index -3 indicates the number of places the decimal point must be moved to the left.

Multiplication-add indices; division-subtract indices (for a common base).


Questions
page (t02)
Some material Copyright John Bowyer G4KGS.
Click here for important Copyright information
Web Space provided by Hostroute.com Ltd
Contact details