Milliwatt [mW] to Gigawatt [GW] Converter
Quick Reference
1 Milliwatt (mW) = 1.0000e-12 Gigawatt (GW)
1 Gigawatt (GW) = 1.0000e+12 Milliwatt (mW)
How to Convert Milliwatt to Gigawatt
1 mW = 1e-12 GW
1 GW = 1000000000000 mW
To convert Milliwatt to Gigawatt, divide the value by 1.0000e+12 (equivalently, multiply by 1.0000e-12). To convert Gigawatt back to Milliwatt, multiply by 1.0000e+12.
Example: convert 10 mW to GW:
10 mW = 10 x 1e-12 = 1e-11 GW
Milliwatt
Definition: A milliwatt (mW) is a unit of power equal to one thousandth (10⁻³) of a watt. It is a subunit of the base unit, the watt, in the International System of Units (SI).
History/origin: The watt is named in honor of Scottish inventor James Watt. The milliwatt, as a decimal multiple of the watt, was naturally derived as a smaller, more convenient unit for measuring smaller powers.
Current use: Milliwatts are used to measure small power levels in electronic circuits, audio equipment, and wireless communication devices. It's used where power consumption is low.
Gigawatt
Definition: A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power equal to one billion (10⁹) watts. It is a multiple of the base unit, the watt, in the International System of Units (SI).
History/origin: The watt is named in honor of Scottish inventor James Watt. The gigawatt, as a decimal multiple of the watt, was derived as a very large unit for measuring the power output of massive systems.
Current use: Gigawatts are used to measure the total power generation capacity of countries, very large power plants (like nuclear or hydroelectric), and global energy consumption trends. It's used for expressing power on a very large, macroscopic scale.
Milliwatt to Gigawatt Conversion Table
| Milliwatt [mW] | Gigawatt [GW] |
|---|---|
| 1 mW | 1e-12 GW |
| 2 mW | 2e-12 GW |
| 5 mW | 5.0000000000000005e-12 GW |
| 10 mW | 1.0000000000000001e-11 GW |
| 20 mW | 2.0000000000000002e-11 GW |
| 50 mW | 5e-11 GW |
| 100 mW | 1e-10 GW |
| 200 mW | 2e-10 GW |
| 500 mW | 5e-10 GW |
| 1000 mW | 1e-9 GW |