Convert Picowatts to Watts
Convert Picowatts (pW) to Watts (W) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
W = pW × 1.000000000e-12
About Picowatts
A picowatt (pW) is 10⁻¹² W - the power scale of the most sensitive radio receivers. GPS satellites transmit 20-50 W; by the time that signal spans 20,000 km, the received power is ~0.1 pW (−130 dBm). Radio telescopes routinely detect cosmic signals in the picowatt range. Qubit control electronics in quantum computers must resolve energy differences at picowatt scales. Photodetectors in single-photon counting mode, hard drive head read-back signals at idle, and deep-shadow solar cells also operate at picowatt levels. 1 pW = 10⁻¹² W.
About Watts
The watt (W) is the SI unit of power - 1 J/s - named after James Watt (1736-1819). Familiar power levels: smartphone charging 5-65 W; laptop 15-100 W; microwave 700-1,200 W; electric kettle 2,000-3,000 W; human resting metabolism ~80 W; peak sprint ~2,000 W. The now-obsolete 100 W incandescent bulb is replaced by a 10-15 W LED producing the same light. In AC circuits, reactive power uses the var and apparent power the VA, both derived from watts. 1 W = 1 J/s = 1 kg·m²/s³.
Quick Reference Table
| Picowatts (pW) | Watts (W) |
|---|---|
| 1 pW | 1 × 10-12 W |
| 2 pW | 2 × 10-12 W |
| 5 pW | 5 × 10-12 W |
| 10 pW | 1 × 10-11 W |
| 25 pW | 2.5 × 10-11 W |
| 50 pW | 5 × 10-11 W |
| 100 pW | 1 × 10-10 W |