Decasecond facts for kids

A decasecond is a way to measure time. It's equal to 10 seconds. Think of it like a "deca" (meaning ten) second. So, one decasecond is the same as ten regular seconds. We can write it as 10 seconds.

What is a Decasecond?

A decasecond is a special unit of time. The word "deca" means ten, so a decasecond is simply ten seconds. It's not a unit we use every day, but it helps us understand how different amounts of time can be grouped.

How Long is a Decasecond?

To help you imagine how long a decasecond is:

• A typical TV commercial in the USA often lasts about 3 decaseconds, which is 30 seconds.
• Six decaseconds make up one minute (6 x 10 seconds = 60 seconds).
• Ten decaseconds equal 1 minute and 40 seconds (10 x 10 seconds = 100 seconds).

While we usually measure time in seconds, minutes, and hours, units like the decasecond show how the metric system can be used to group measurements by tens.

Images for kids

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  French decimal clock from the time of the French Revolution. The large dial shows the ten hours of the decimal day in Arabic numerals, while the small dial shows the two 12-hour periods of the standard 24-hour day in Roman numerals.

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  Decimal-time clock reading 2.50 DT equivalent to 06:00 standard time

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  Astronomical table from the Almanach national de France using decimal time

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  French timepiece with 12-hour (upper) and decimal (lower) faces, 1793–94

See also

In Spanish: Tiempo decimal para niños