What is an Electronvolt?
- Recall the equation for work done by moving a charge in an electric field:
- The equation states that the work done on an electron of charge -1.6 * 10⁻¹⁹ C as it moves through a potential difference of one volt is:
- This is called the "electronvolt".
- It is written as eV, so be careful not to confuse it with electric potential, Vₑ.
- It is the work done on one electron as it moves through one volt.
- We can convert joules into electronvolts by dividing it by, 1.6 * 10⁻¹⁹.