1. What is an Electron Volt (eV)?

The electron volt (eV) is a unit of energy equal to approximately 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ joules. It's defined as the amount of kinetic energy gained by a single electron accelerating from rest through an electric potential difference of one volt in vacuum.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the fundamental conversion:

And derived conversions:

• 1 eV = 23.06054 kcal/mol
• 1 eV = 11604.51812 K (kelvin)
• 1 eV = 8065.543937 cm⁻¹ (wavenumber)

3. Importance of eV in Physics

Details: The electron volt is commonly used in atomic, nuclear, and particle physics. It's convenient for describing small energies at the atomic scale, such as the energy of photons or the binding energy of electrons in atoms.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter energy value in eV, select the desired conversion unit, and click Calculate. The calculator will provide the converted value with appropriate units.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use eV instead of joules in physics?
A: eV provides more manageable numbers when dealing with atomic-scale energies (1-1000 eV) compared to very small joule values (10⁻¹⁹ scale).

Q2: What is the relationship between eV and wavelength?
A: For photons, energy (eV) = 1239.8 / wavelength (nm). This is useful in spectroscopy and quantum physics.

Q3: How is eV used in semiconductor physics?
A: Band gaps in semiconductors are typically measured in eV (e.g., silicon has ~1.1 eV band gap at room temperature).

Q4: What's the difference between eV and eV/c²?
A: eV measures energy, while eV/c² measures mass (using E=mc²). Particle masses are often given in eV/c².

Q5: Can eV be used for macroscopic energies?
A: While possible (1 kWh ≈ 2.247×10²⁵ eV), it's impractical - joules or kWh are better for macroscopic scales.