Microscopy - Units of Conversion

This lesson covers:

  1. How to convert between units of length, such as from mm to nm
  2. Examples of how small objects such as cells, molecules, and atoms, really are

Convert 3 mm to μm.

3000

μm

μm

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Convert 560 nm to μm.

0.56

μm

μm

0

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1

Convert 0.78 km to m.

780

m

m

0

/

1

Convert 270 μm to nm.

270000

nm

nm

0

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1

Convert 23 mm to nm. 

23,000 (2.3 x 104) nm

23,000,000 (2.3 x 107) nm

0.023 (2.3 x 10-2) nm

0.000023 (2.3 x 10-5) nm

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Convert 4.7 μm to m. 

4,700 (4.7 x 103) m

4,700,000 (4.7 x 106) m

0.0047 (4.7 x 10-3) m

0.0000047 (4.7 x 10-6) m

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1

Illustration of a bacterial cell showing its internal structures and flagella.

Roughly how large is a bacterial cell?

1 nm across 

1 μm across

1 mm across 

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1

Illustration comparing the size of a virus particle and a plant cell, not drawn to scale.

Which is larger, a virus particle or plant cell?

Virus

Plant cell

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1

Illustration of a human eye with a focus on the visible parts.

What is the smallest size the human eye can see? 

A virus particle 

A bacterial cell

The width of a human hair 

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Which type of microscope allows us to see smaller objects?

Electron microscope 

Light microscope 

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How many mm are there in 1 cm?

10

mm

mm

0

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1

Convert 3.2 cm to mm.

32

mm

mm

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1

Convert 4.7 cm to μm.

47000

μm

μm

0

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1