Question

An electron volt is: A) the force acting on an electron in a field of 1 N/C B) the force required to move an electron 1 meter C) the energy gained by an electron in moving through a potential difference of 1 volt D) the energy needed to move an electron through 1 meter in any electric field E) the work done when 1 coulomb of charge is moved through a potential difference of 1 volt

Answer 1

Answer: C) the energy gained by an electron in moving through a potential difference of 1 volt

Explanation: In order to explain this response we have to consider that the potential energy for any charge is given by:

Up=q*ΔV then if we consider an electron accelerate by a difference potential of 1V, we have:

Up=e*V ( energy UNITS, which is equal to 1.6*10^-19 J).

The option A) and B) are wrong because elentron Volt has units of energy not force.

The option D) is also wrong because the the work done to move un electron one meter also depends of the magnitud of the potential difference ( electric field) where the electron is moving .

Finally the option D) is false because the one C*V is one J, is huge quantity of energy compared to the electron Volt (eV).