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an electron-volt (ev) is the amount of energy needed to move a single electron from an electric potential of 0 to an electric potential of -1 v. the charge of an electron is approximately -1.602 x 10-19 c. how many joules is an electron volt?

User Yanex
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Final answer:

An electron-volt (eV) is equivalent to 1.602 × 10-19 joules (J), which is the energy given to an electron when it is moved through an electric potential difference of 1 volt.

Step-by-step explanation:

An electron-volt (eV) is a unit of energy that's especially useful on the submicroscopic scale.

It is defined as the energy given to a fundamental charge, like an electron, when it is accelerated through an electric potential difference of 1 volt (V).

By multiplying the charge of an electron, approximately -1.602 x 10-19 coulombs (C), with 1 volt, we get:

1 eV = (-1.602 × 10-19 C) × (1 J/C)

= 1.602 × 10-19 joules (J)

This equation illustrates that an electron-volt is equivalent to 1.602 × 10-19 joules,

providing a direct conversion between these two units of energy.

This conversion is particularly handy when dealing with elementary particle energies, semiconductor physics, and other areas of quantum mechanics.

User Paulo Mendes
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