Definition

A very small unit of time that is one quadrillionth of a second.

Example

Scientists can measure events that happen in a femtosecond, such as the movement of electrons.

Conversation

Did you know that a femtosecond is one quadrillionth of a second?

Wow, that's incredibly small! What does that even mean in real life?

It means that things can happen in a blink, like in high-speed photography.

That's fascinating! I didn't realize time could be measured so precisely.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Femtosecond** → It is formed from "femto-" (from Danish *femten*, meaning fifteen) and "second" (from Latin *secundus*, meaning following or second). The term femtosecond refers to one quadrillionth of a second, indicating a time unit that is fifteen orders of magnitude smaller than a second.

Memory Tip

Think of 'femto-' meaning fifteen, which helps you remember that a femtosecond is a time unit that is incredibly small, specifically one quadrillionth of a second.

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