Science glossary film: Nanometer

One billionth of a meter. The nanometer gives its name to nanotechnology and nanomaterials, because the size of the structures and objects involved are of the order of a few nanometers. This is the scale of atoms and molecules - a typical atom is about a third of a nanometer in diameter.

The nanometer gives its name to nanotechnology and nanomaterials, because the size of the structures and objects involved are of the order of a few nanometers. This is the scale of atoms and molecules - a typical atom is about a third of a nanometer in diameter.