Meter to Nanometer Converter

A meter (m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole, it is now defined by the speed of light in vacuum.

The meter was first defined in 1793 during the French Revolution as part of the metric system. Initially based on Earth's dimensions, it was later redefined using a platinum-iridium bar (1889), then by wavelengths of light (1960), and finally in 1983 by the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

The meter is universally used in science, engineering, and most countries for everyday measurements. It's the standard for construction, manufacturing, sports (track and field), and scientific research. Most countries use meters for height, room dimensions, and short to medium distances.

A nanometer (nm) is a unit of length equal to one-billionth of a meter (10⁻⁹ m). It is used for measuring atomic and molecular scales.

The nanometer became important with the development of electron microscopy and atomic physics in the 20th century. The prefix 'nano-' comes from the Greek word 'nanos' meaning 'dwarf'. It gained prominence with the rise of nanotechnology in the late 20th century.

Nanometers are crucial in nanotechnology, semiconductor manufacturing, molecular biology, and materials science. They're used to measure wavelengths of light, sizes of molecules and atoms, semiconductor transistor features, and in DNA sequencing technologies.