What is the meaning of the prefix pico (p) in terms of powers of ten?

The prefix "pico" is used in the metric system to denote a specific factor by which a quantity is multiplied. In this case, pico represents one trillionth of a unit, which is mathematically expressed as 1 x 10^-12.

This means that when you see the term "picometre," for example, it indicates that there are one trillion picometres in a metre. The use of such prefixes helps to simplify the representation of extremely small or large values in scientific notation, making it easier to work with measurements in various fields, including design technology and engineering.