Definition:Metric System/Length/Angstrom
Angstrom
The angstrom is a metric unit of length.
Conversion Factors
\(\ds \) | \(\) | \(\ds 1\) | angstrom | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 10^{-1}\) | nanometres | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 10^{-4}\) | micrometres | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 10^{-7}\) | millimetres | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 10^{-8}\) | centimetres | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 10^{-10}\) | metres |
Symbol
The symbol for the angstrom is $\mathring {\mathrm A}$.
Also known as
The angstrom is often seen in older sources presented as angstrom unit.
Source of Name
This entry was named for Anders Jonas Ångström.
Historical Note
The angstrom was formally used for measurements of wavelengths and intramolecular distances, but has been superseded by the nanometre ($10^{-9} \, \mathrm m$)
Linguistic Note
The word angstrom is derived from a Swedish name, and properly has diacritics: ångström.
However, this "correct" presentation is tedious to implement and a nuisance to maintain, so $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ prefers the simple version angstrom.
Its symbol, however, does need the small circle above the A in order to be accurate and unambiguous.
This, unfortunately, is not straightforward to render in $\LaTeX$ without including further expansion sets.
Hence the $\LaTeX$ form as $\mathring {\mathrm A}$ (not a strictly accurate rendition) is how it is presented on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$.
Sources
- 1964: Milton Abramowitz and Irene A. Stegun: Handbook of Mathematical Functions ... (previous) ... (next): $2$. Physical Constants and Conversion Factors: Table $2.4$ Miscellaneous Conversion Factors
- 1969: J.C. Anderson, D.M. Hum, B.G. Neal and J.H. Whitelaw: Data and Formulae for Engineering Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1.$ Units and Abbreviations: $1.3$ British and other units
- 1978: A.P. French and Edwin F. Taylor: An Introduction to Quantum Physics ... (previous) ... (next): $1$: Simple models of the atom: $\text {1-1}$: Introduction
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): angstrom
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): angstrom