Millicoulomb (mC): The Unit for Everyday Electric Charge | changeunit.com
A millicoulomb (mC) is a unit of electric charge equivalent to one-thousandth of a coulomb (1/1000 C). The "milli" prefix, derived from the Latin "mille" for thousand, makes the millicoulomb a practical unit for measuring the smaller quantities of charge commonly found in electronics, static electricity, and electrochemical processes.
Since one coulomb is a very large amount of charge—more than you'd typically find in a simple circuit—the millicoulomb provides a much more convenient scale for expressing these values without using scientific notation.
Where You'll Find Millicoulombs
While industrial applications might deal with kilocoulombs or megacoulombs, the millicoulomb is the workhorse of everyday electrical measurement. You'll encounter it when discussing:
- Capacitors: The charge stored in a capacitor, a common component in electronic circuits, is often measured in millicoulombs.
- Static Electricity: The charge generated when you rub a balloon on your hair or shuffle your feet across a carpet is in the millicoulomb range.
- Battery Capacity: The charge transferred from a small battery, like those used in a flashlight or remote control, can be quantified in millicoulombs.
- Electrochemistry: In a lab setting, the charge passed during an experiment on a small scale is commonly measured in mC.
Millicoulomb Conversion Table
On changeunit.com, converting between millicoulombs and other units is simple and fast. Here is a helpful reference table for the most common conversions:
| Unit | Symbol | Conversion Factor to Millicoulombs (mC) |
|---|---|---|
| Millicoulomb | mC | 1 mC |
| Coulomb | C | 1 C = 1,000 mC |
| Microcoulomb | µC | 1 µC = 0.001 mC |
| Ampere-hour | Ah | 1 Ah = 3,600,000 mC |
| Kilocoulomb | kC | 1 kC = 1,000,000 mC |
| Nanocoulomb | nC | 1 nC = 0.000001 mC |
The millicoulomb is a fundamental unit for anyone working with small to medium electrical systems. Whether you're a student learning about circuits or a hobbyist building an electronic project, understanding the millicoulomb will give you a better grasp of the amount of charge you're dealing with. Use our converters on changeunit.com to make your calculations easier. ⚡