Definition:SI/Energy/Electron Volt

Definition

The electron volt is a SI unit of energy.

It is defined as:

the amount of kinetic energy gained by a single electron accelerating from rest through an electric potential difference of $1$ volt in a vacuum.

Conversion Factors

\(\ds \)

\(\)

\(\ds 1\)

electron volt

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 1.60217 \, 6634 \times 10^{−19}\)

joule

\(\quad\) (exact)

Symbol

$\mathrm {eV}$ or $\mathrm {ev}$

The symbol for the electron volt is $\mathrm {eV}$ or $\mathrm {ev}$.

The $\LaTeX$ code for \(\mathrm {eV}\) is \mathrm {eV} .

The $\LaTeX$ code for \(\mathrm {ev}\) is \mathrm {ev} .

Also known as

The term electron volt can also be seen presented without a space: electronvolt.

Sources

• 1969: J.C. Anderson, D.M. Hum, B.G. Neal and J.H. Whitelaw: Data and Formulae for Engineering Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1.$ Units and Abbreviations: $1.3$ British and other units
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): electronvolt
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): electronvolt