Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A barn is a unit of area used in nuclear physics to express the cross-section of nuclear reactions. Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1 barn is defined as \(10^{-28}\) square meters (m\(^2\)). It is approximately the cross-sectional area of a uranium nucleus. The name "barn" was coined during the Manhattan Project as a colloquialism for "as big as a barn" to describe the relatively large cross-section of certain nuclear reactions. Step 3: Final Answer:
One barn = \(10^{-28} m^2\).