What Is This Tool?
This is a length unit converter designed to translate values measured in the classical electron radius to kilometers. It is useful for representing extremely small atomic-scale lengths in units that relate to human-scale distances.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the numerical length value in electron radius (classical).
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Select the unit 'Electron radius (classical)' as the input.
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Choose 'kilometer [km]' as the output unit.
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Submit to get the converted distance expressed in kilometers.
Key Features
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Converts electron radius (classical) values to kilometer units with an established conversion rate.
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Supports scientific use cases across particle physics, plasma physics, and astrophysics.
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Browser-based and easy to use without complex calculations required.
Examples
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5 Electron radius (classical) equals 1.40897046e-17 kilometers.
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10 Electron radius (classical) equals 2.81794092e-17 kilometers.
Common Use Cases
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Converting subatomic length scales to units relevant for macroscopic comparison.
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Computing Thomson scattering cross sections in electromagnetic scattering studies.
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Normalizing electromagnetic interaction lengths in various physics calculations.
Tips & Best Practices
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Keep in mind the theoretical nature of the electron radius when interpreting results.
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Use this converter primarily for scientific analysis rather than practical distance measurement.
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Double-check inputs due to the extremely small magnitudes involved in calculations.
Limitations
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The electron radius (classical) is a theoretical derived scale, not an actual physical size.
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Conversions yield extremely small numbers, often impractical for common distance uses.
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Floating-point precision limits may affect the accuracy of very small converted values.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does the classical electron radius represent?
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It is a derived length scale representing the distance where the classical electrostatic self-energy matches the electron rest energy, used as a characteristic scattering length.
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Why convert electron radius to kilometers?
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To express atomic and subatomic scales in terms that relate to familiar macroscopic distances, aiding comparison and analysis.
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Can I use this converter for practical road distance measurements?
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No, because the electron radius is a theoretical value with extremely small magnitude, it is not suitable for everyday distance measurements.
Key Terminology
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Electron radius (classical)
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A theoretical length based on classical physics defining a characteristic scattering length of the electron.
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Kilometer [km]
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An SI derived unit of length equal to 1,000 metres used to express everyday and scientific distances.
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Thomson scattering
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Scattering of low-energy photons by free charged particles, with cross section related to the electron radius.