Convert Classical Electron Radius to Meter
Convert classical electron radii to meters instantly. 1 classical electron radius = 2.81794e-15 meter — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Meter to Classical Electron Radius converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Classical Electron Radius
The classical electron radius is approximately 2.818×10⁻¹⁵ meters. It is the radius an electron would have if its mass were entirely electromagnetic and its charge distributed over its surface.
Defined classically in the early 20th century. The CODATA 2018 value of 2.8179403262×10⁻¹⁵ m is derived from the elementary charge, electron rest mass, and the Coulomb constant.
The classical electron radius appears in scattering theory (Thomson scattering cross-section), particle physics estimates, and historical electromagnetism. It is a calculational tool, not the actual size of an electron, which has no measured extent.
Concept dates to the early 20th-century classical electromagnetism; CODATA 2018 provides the current reference value.
Meter
The meter is the SI base unit of length. Since 2019, the meter has been defined by fixing the numerical value of the speed of light in vacuum to exactly 299,792,458 meters per second. Every other SI length unit derives from the meter.
The meter was originally defined in 1793 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris. It has been redefined multiple times — by physical prototype, then by atomic transitions, and finally in 2019 by fundamental physical constants.
The meter is the international standard for length in science, engineering, construction, athletics, and everyday measurement in metric countries. It underpins definitions of area (m²), volume (m³), and most derived SI units.
Established 1793 in France; ratified internationally via the Metre Convention 1875; redefined in 1960, 1983, and most recently 2019 when the SI redefinition fixed it to the speed of light.
Classical Electron Radius to Meter conversion formula
The relationship between classical electron radii and meters:
To convert classical electron radii to meters, multiply the value in classical electron radii by 2.81794e-15. To reverse, multiply meters by 3.548691e+14.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in meters updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Meter to Classical Electron Radius converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert classical electron radii to meters
- Write down the value in classical electron radii (rₑ).
- Multiply that value by the factor 2.81794e-15.
- The product is the equivalent value in meters (m).
- To reverse, multiply the meter value by 3.548691e+14.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 rₑ to m:
1 × 2.81794e-15 = 2.81794e-15 m
Example 2 — Convert 100 rₑ to m:
100 × 2.81794e-15 = 2.81794e-13 m
Real-world example — From sub-micron to human scale
One billion classical electron radii equals one meter — the conversion that drives home the gulf between atomic-scale features and everyday objects in physics curricula.
1e+9 rₑ × 2.81794e-15 = 2.81794e-6 m
Real-world example — Bridging nine orders of magnitude
500 million classical electron radii equals a value comfortably in the human-scale meters range. Physics problems that span this gap are common when comparing the wavelength of light to the path length of an experiment.
5e+8 rₑ × 2.81794e-15 = 1.40897e-6 m
Classical Electron Radius to Meter conversion table
Standard reference values for converting classical electron radii to meters:
| Classical Electron Radius [rₑ] | Meter [m] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 2.81794e-17 |
| 0.1 | 2.81794e-16 |
| 1 | 2.81794e-15 |
| 2 | 5.635881e-15 |
| 3 | 8.453821e-15 |
| 4 | 1.127176e-14 |
| 5 | 1.40897e-14 |
| 10 | 2.81794e-14 |
| 20 | 5.635881e-14 |
| 30 | 8.453821e-14 |
| 40 | 1.127176e-13 |
| 50 | 1.40897e-13 |
| 100 | 2.81794e-13 |
| 500 | 1.40897e-12 |
| 1000 | 2.81794e-12 |
Frequently asked questions
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Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 rₑ = 2.81794e-15 m) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.