Q5CQ - College Physics (Urone)

Question

How are units of volts and electron volts related? How do they differ?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

They are related by the given expression-

 1 eV = (1.60 x 10^-19 C) (1V)

The main difference is that Volt is the unit of potential difference whereas electron-volts is the unit of energy.

Step 1: Definition of Electron Volts

The amount of kinetic energy gained by a single electron accelerating from rest for one-volt electric potential difference in vacuum is measured in electron-volts.

Step 2 : Explaning the relationship between volts and electron volts

The relation between volts and electron-volts is given as-

  1 eV = (1.60 x 10^-19 C) (1V)

Thus, electron-volts is defined as the amount of work done in carrying an electron between two points having a potential difference of 1V between them.

The main difference between them is that the electron-volts is a unit of energy, whereas the volt is the unit of electric potential difference.