20 milliseconds (msec) is equal to 0.02 seconds (sec).
Since 1 second equals 1000 milliseconds, converting milliseconds to seconds means dividing the millisecond value by 1000. Therefore, 20 msec divided by 1000 results in 0.02 sec.
Conversion Tool
Result in sec:
Conversion Formula
The formula for converting milliseconds to seconds is based on the relationship 1 second = 1000 milliseconds. To find the seconds from milliseconds, you divide the number of milliseconds by 1000.
This works because milliseconds are one-thousandth of a second, so dividing by 1000 reduces the value to the equivalent in seconds.
Example calculation:
- Start with 20 milliseconds.
- Divide 20 by 1000: 20 ÷ 1000 = 0.02.
- The result is 0.02 seconds.
Conversion Example
- Convert 150 msec to sec:
- 150 divided by 1000 equals 0.15.
- Therefore, 150 msec = 0.15 sec.
- Convert 500 msec to sec:
- 500 ÷ 1000 = 0.5.
- So, 500 msec equals 0.5 sec.
- Convert 75 msec to sec:
- 75 divided by 1000 is 0.075.
- Resulting in 0.075 seconds.
- Convert 1000 msec to sec:
- 1000 ÷ 1000 equals 1.
- Thus, 1000 msec equals 1 second.
Conversion Chart
The chart below shows milliseconds values from -5.0 to 45.0 and their equivalent in seconds by dividing each value by 1000. Negative values indicate a time before a reference point.
| Milliseconds (msec) | Seconds (sec) |
|---|---|
| -5.0 | -0.005 |
| 0.0 | 0.000 |
| 5.0 | 0.005 |
| 10.0 | 0.010 |
| 15.0 | 0.015 |
| 20.0 | 0.020 |
| 25.0 | 0.025 |
| 30.0 | 0.030 |
| 35.0 | 0.035 |
| 40.0 | 0.040 |
| 45.0 | 0.045 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many seconds is 20 milliseconds equal to?
- What is the formula to convert 20 msec into seconds?
- How do I convert 20 ms to seconds on a calculator?
- Is 20 milliseconds the same as 0.02 seconds?
- How to convert 20 milliseconds into seconds manually?
- What does 20 msec mean in seconds for time measurements?
- How does 20 milliseconds convert to seconds in physics problems?
Conversion Definitions
Millisecond (msec): A millisecond is a unit of time equal to one thousandth of a second. It is commonly used to measure very short time intervals, such as in computing, electronics, and timing events that require high precision beyond seconds.
Second (sec): A second is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). Defined by atomic properties, it represents the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of radiation from a cesium atom, making it a universal standard for time measurement.
Conversion FAQs
Can milliseconds be larger than a second?
Milliseconds themselves are smaller units, so they cannot be larger than a second; however, the numeric value in milliseconds can exceed 1000, which means the total time exceeds one second. For example, 1500 milliseconds equals 1.5 seconds.
Why do I divide by 1000 to convert milliseconds to seconds?
Since there are 1000 milliseconds in one second, dividing a millisecond value by 1000 converts it to seconds. This scales the smaller unit (msec) up to the larger unit (sec) accurately.
Is 0.02 seconds accurate for 20 milliseconds?
Yes, 20 milliseconds equals exactly 0.02 seconds because 20 ÷ 1000 equals 0.02. This is an exact conversion without rounding errors.
How precise is the conversion from milliseconds to seconds?
The conversion is precise as long as the decimal places are accounted for correctly. Since milliseconds are one-thousandth of a second, conversions can represent times accurately up to the thousandths place or more depending on decimal precision.
Can I convert milliseconds to minutes using the same method?
No, converting milliseconds to minutes requires converting milliseconds to seconds first, then dividing by 60 since there are 60 seconds in a minute. This two-step conversion differs from the direct division by 1000 used for seconds.