What Is This Tool?
This converter enables you to transform power values from femtowatts, which measure extremely small real power levels, into volt-amperes, the unit of apparent power in AC circuits. It serves to link measurements in sensitive low-power systems with those applicable in electrical engineering and power distribution.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the power value in femtowatts that you want to convert.
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Select femtowatt [fW] as the source unit and volt ampere [V*A] as the target unit.
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent value expressed in volt-amperes.
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Use the results to assist in relating real power levels to apparent power ratings in AC circuits.
Key Features
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Converts femtowatts (fW), an SI derived unit for tiny power measurements, to volt-amperes (V*A), the unit for apparent power in AC systems.
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Supports applications in nanoscale electronics, radio astronomy, photodetection, and power engineering.
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Easy to use with simple input for values and instant output in the target unit.
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Browser-based solution requiring no installation or extra software.
Examples
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5 femtowatts [fW] converts to 5 × 1e-15 = 5e-15 volt ampere [V*A].
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100 femtowatts [fW] converts to 100 × 1e-15 = 1e-13 volt ampere [V*A].
Common Use Cases
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Converting low-level signal powers measured in radio astronomy to apparent power units used in AC system analysis.
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Relating power dissipation in ultra-sensitive photodetectors and nanoscale devices to electrical equipment ratings.
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Supporting transformer, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and generator ratings by translating real power to apparent power references.
Tips & Best Practices
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Ensure the power factor is considered since volt-amperes represent apparent power and include phase effects.
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Use this conversion when analyzing small-signal power in sensitive electronics alongside equipment rated by apparent power.
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Validate measurements carefully due to the extremely small scale of femtowatt values before converting.
Limitations
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Volt-ampere values depend on voltage and current phase angles, so this conversion assumes a power factor of 1 and may not fully represent reactive power.
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The minuscule magnitude of femtowatt levels presents challenges in measurement accuracy and direct application in many AC power scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does converting femtowatt to volt ampere mean?
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It means expressing an extremely small real power measurement into the apparent power unit used in AC circuits, helping relate sensitive system signals to electrical equipment ratings.
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Can I use this conversion for all AC power calculations?
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This conversion assumes a power factor of one, so it works best for purely resistive loads and does not account for reactive power components.
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Where is femtowatt typically used?
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Femtowatt applies to detecting extremely low power levels such as signal power in radio astronomy, photodetection, and low-power nanoscale electronics.
Key Terminology
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Femtowatt [fW]
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An SI derived unit of power equal to 10⁻¹⁵ watt, used to quantify extremely small power levels in sensitive applications.
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Volt ampere [V*A]
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The unit of apparent power in AC circuits, calculated as the product of root-mean-square voltage and current, reflecting total delivered power regardless of phase.
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Apparent Power
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The combined effect of real power and reactive power in AC electrical systems, measured in volt-amperes.