Electron volt

scroll

Commonly used unit of energy in atomic and nuclear physics. An electron volt is the kinetic energy gained by an electron or other simply charged particles when passing through a voltage difference of 1 Volt in vacuum. 1 eV is equal to the energy of 1.602 · 10^-19 J. Derived greater units:

Kiloelectron volt (keV) = 1,000 eV
Megaelectron volt (MeV) = 1,000,000 eV
Gigaelectron volt (GeV) = 1,000,000,000 eV

Illustration of the electron volt energy unit

back