Length · Unit Converter

Convert Barn to Outhouse

Convert barns to outhouses instantly. 1 barn = 1000000 outhouse — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Outhouse to Barn converter for the reverse conversion.

Written by Sunith Babu L, Ph.D., Lead Engineer Reviewed by Girish V Kulkarni Ph.D.
Length category 2 min read Published Last reviewed Updated

Units explained

Scientific / Physics

Barn

What is a barn?

A barn is a scientific unit of area equal to exactly 10⁻²⁸ m² (100 fm²). It is used in nuclear and particle physics to express interaction cross-sections.

Origin of the barn

Named in 1942 at Purdue University by physicists working on the Manhattan Project. The name comes from the phrase 'big as a barn' — uranium nuclei have cross-sections this large, which physicists initially considered surprisingly large for nuclear targets.

Where it is used

Barns and their submultiples (millibarn, microbarn, nanobarn, picobarn, femtobarn) are the standard units for cross-section measurements in nuclear physics, high-energy physics, and accelerator experiments. The Higgs boson production cross-section at the LHC is in the picobarn range.

When and where it was developed

Named in 1942 during the Manhattan Project; adopted internationally in particle physics.

Scientific / Physics

Outhouse

What is a outhouse?

An outhouse is a humorous physics unit of area equal to exactly 10⁻³⁴ m² (10⁻⁶ barn), identical in value to the microbarn.

Origin of the outhouse

Coined by physicists as a humorous extension of the 'barn' nomenclature: if the barn is a large physics target, then by analogy something millionfold smaller is an 'outhouse'.

Where it is used

Outhouses are virtually never used in serious physics literature but exist as a defined humor unit. Microbarn is the preferred professional term.

When and where it was developed

Physics community humor; rarely used in practice.

Barn to Outhouse conversion formula

The relationship between barns and outhouses:

1 b = 1000000 outh
1 outh = 1e-6 b

To convert barns to outhouses, multiply the value in barns by 1000000. To reverse, multiply outhouses by 1e-6.

How to use this converter

Type a value into the calculator. The result in outhouses updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Outhouse to Barn converter for the reverse direction.

Step-by-step: convert barns to outhouses

  1. Write down the value in barns (b).
  2. Multiply that value by the factor 1000000.
  3. The product is the equivalent value in outhouses (outh).
  4. To reverse, multiply the outhouse value by 1e-6.

Worked examples

Example 1 — Convert 1 b to outh:
1 × 1000000 = 1000000 outh

Example 2 — Convert 100 b to outh:
100 × 1000000 = 1e+8 outh

Real-world example — Wavelengths across the spectrum

Optical and atomic-scale phenomena are routinely cross-converted between sub-micron units. A photon of wavelength 800 barns can be re-expressed in outhouses for direct comparison with another instrument's calibration data sheet.

800 b × 1000000 = 8e+8 outh

Real-world example — Molecular dimensions

The diameter of small molecular structures (around 2 barns) is often converted into related sub-micron units when comparing measurements across different microscopy techniques or imaging modalities.

2 b × 1000000 = 2000000 outh

Barn to Outhouse conversion table

Standard reference values for converting barns to outhouses:

Barn [b]Outhouse [outh]
0.0110000
0.1100000
11000000
22000000
33000000
44000000
55000000
101e+7
202e+7
303e+7
404e+7
505e+7
1001e+8
5005e+8
10001e+9

Frequently asked questions

How many outhouses is 1 barn?
1 barn equals 1000000 outhouse.
How do I convert barns to outhouses?
Multiply the value in barns by 1000000 to get outhouses.
How do I convert outhouses back to barns?
Multiply the value in outhouses by 1e-6, or use the Outhouse to Barn converter.
How many outhouses is 100 barns?
100 barns equals 1e+8 outhouses, because 100 × 1000000 = 1e+8.

Convert Barn to other area units

Show all Barn conversions

Sources & references

Conversion factor (1 b = 1000000 outh) verified against the following authoritative sources:

Results are provided for general reference. Verify critical measurements against an authoritative standard.