Second (s)

Definition

The second (s) is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the duration of * *9,192,631,770 periods** of the radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom.

History

  • Ancient Times: The concept of dividing the day into smaller units dates back to ancient civilizations, with seconds derived from dividing hours.
  • 1670: The term "second" was used to refer to the second division of an hour.
  • 1967: The current definition based on atomic time was adopted, refining accuracy in time measurement.

Uses

The second is used universally in various fields including:

  • Everyday life (clocks, watches)
  • Science (experiments, timekeeping)
  • Engineering (scheduling, project timelines)
  • Sports (timing events)

Conversions

  • 1 minute = 60 seconds
  • 1 hour = 3,600 seconds
  • 1 day = 86,400 seconds

Fun Facts

  • The second is the only SI base unit that is not based on a physical object.
  • Leap seconds are occasionally added to synchronize atomic time with Earth's rotation.
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