What is the meaning of the metric prefix 'atto'?

The metric prefix "atto" signifies a factor of 10 raised to the power of -18. This means that when you see a measurement that uses the prefix "atto," such as "attogram" or "attosecond," it indicates that the measurement is one quintillionth (1/1,000,000,000,000,000,000) of a base unit.

To clarify the context, prefixes in the metric system are used to denote powers of ten and provide a way to express very large or very small quantities in a manageable form. Understanding these prefixes is crucial for calibration technicians, as they often deal with measurements that may range widely in magnitude.

Examining the other options, "10^-15" corresponds to the prefix "femto," "10^-12" relates to "pico," and "10^-24" is associated with "zepto." Each of these has its own specific meaning and application, but "atto" specifically defines the scale of 10 raised to -18, making it unique and important in scientific measurements.