⚡ Volt to Electron Volt Calculator
Convert voltage to electron volts
Enter the voltage in Volts
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Voltage
Input the voltage in Volts (V) that you want to convert to electron volts. This represents the potential difference through which an electron is accelerated.
Calculate
Click the "Convert to Electron Volts" button. The result shows the energy in electron volts (eV) that a single electron gains when accelerated through the specified voltage.
Understand the Result
The electron volt (eV) is a unit of energy. For a single electron, the energy in eV equals the voltage in volts: 1 V = 1 eV per electron. This is because eV = q × V / q = V for one electron charge.
Formula
eV = V
For a single electron
E = q × V
Energy gained by charge
Where:
- eV = Energy (Electron Volts, eV)
- V = Voltage (Volts, V)
- E = Energy (Joules, J)
- q = Charge (Coulombs, C) = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ C (elementary charge)
Example Calculation 1:
For V = 1 V:
eV = 1 V = 1 eV
An electron accelerated through 1 volt gains 1 electron volt of kinetic energy.
Example Calculation 2:
For V = 1000 V:
eV = 1000 V = 1000 eV = 1 keV
An electron accelerated through 1000 volts gains 1000 electron volts (1 kiloelectron volt, keV) of energy.
Example Calculation 3:
For V = 5 V:
eV = 5 V = 5 eV
An electron accelerated through 5 volts gains 5 electron volts of kinetic energy.
About Volt to Electron Volt Calculator
The Volt to Electron Volt Calculator converts voltage to electron volts, representing the kinetic energy a single electron gains when accelerated through that voltage. An electron volt (eV) is a unit of energy equal to the kinetic energy gained by a single electron when accelerated through one volt of potential difference. For a single electron, 1 volt equals 1 electron volt.
When to Use This Calculator
- Particle Physics: Convert acceleration voltages to particle energies
- Electron Microscopy: Determine electron energy from acceleration voltage
- Semiconductor Physics: Calculate band gap energies and electron energies
- Atomic Physics: Convert voltage to energy for charged particle systems
- Education: Understand the relationship between voltage and energy
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Simple Conversion: Quick conversion from volts to electron volts
- ✅ Physics Applications: Essential for particle and atomic physics
- ✅ Precise Calculation: Accurate conversion for scientific work
- ✅ Free Tool: No registration or payment required
- ✅ Educational: Learn about electron volts and energy units
Common Applications
Electron Microscopes: In electron microscopes, electrons are accelerated through high voltages (e.g., 100-300 kV). The acceleration voltage directly determines the electron energy in electron volts. For example, 100 kV acceleration voltage produces 100 keV electrons, which have short de Broglie wavelengths enabling high-resolution imaging.
Particle Accelerators: In particle accelerators and cathode ray tubes, charged particles are accelerated through potential differences. The voltage determines the particle kinetic energy. An electron accelerated through 1 MV (megavolt) gains 1 MeV (megaelectron volt) of energy. This calculator helps convert acceleration voltages to particle energies.
Semiconductor Devices: In semiconductor physics, electron volts are commonly used for band gaps, doping energies, and electron/hole energies. For example, silicon has a band gap of approximately 1.1 eV. This corresponds to a voltage difference of 1.1 V. Understanding the volt-to-eV conversion is essential for semiconductor device design.
Tips for Best Results
- Remember: 1 V = 1 eV for a single electron charge
- For multiple electrons, multiply by the number of electrons
- Common prefixes: keV (kiloelectron volt = 1000 eV), MeV (megaelectron volt = 10⁶ eV)
- 1 eV = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ Joules
- Electron volts are convenient for atomic-scale energies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an electron volt (eV)?
An electron volt is a unit of energy equal to the kinetic energy gained by a single electron when accelerated through one volt of potential difference. 1 eV = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ Joules. It's commonly used in atomic, particle, and condensed matter physics because it's convenient for atomic-scale energies.
Why is 1 volt equal to 1 electron volt?
For a single electron, when it's accelerated through V volts, its kinetic energy gain is E = q × V, where q = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ C (elementary charge). In electron volts: eV = E / q = (q × V) / q = V. So 1 V = 1 eV per electron. The electron volt is defined such that 1 eV = 1 V × e / e = 1 V.
Can I use this for other particles besides electrons?
The formula eV = V holds specifically for electrons (or any particle with charge equal to the elementary charge). For other particles, multiply by the charge ratio: for a proton (charge +e), 1 V = 1 eV. For alpha particles (charge +2e), 1 V = 2 eV. For ions with charge Ze, multiply by Z.
What is the relationship between volts and joules?
1 electron volt = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ Joules. For a single electron: 1 V = 1 eV = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ J. To convert eV to J: multiply by 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹. To convert J to eV: divide by 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹.
What are common electron volt values?
Common values: 1 eV (atomic binding energies), 1-10 eV (molecular energies), 1 keV = 1000 eV (X-rays), 1 MeV = 10⁶ eV (nuclear energies), 1 GeV = 10⁹ eV (particle physics). Visible light photons have energies around 1.7-3.1 eV. X-rays are typically 1-100 keV.
Is this the same as voltage?
No. Voltage (V) is potential difference (energy per unit charge). Electron volt (eV) is energy. However, for a single electron, the numerical values are equal: an electron accelerated through V volts gains V electron volts of energy. This is a special property of the electron volt unit definition.