Convert MeV to V: How?

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In summary, the conversation discussed the possibility of converting MeV (mega-electron-volt) to V (volt) and how it can be done. It was clarified that MeV is a unit of energy while V is a unit of electrical potential difference. It was also mentioned that in order to bring a particle to a stop, it would have to go through a potential difference of -4.19 MV. The conversation also touched on the difference between eV and volts, with an example of 1eV being equivalent to 1.602 x 10^-19 Joules. It was noted that the conversion between eV and volts is not a simple multiplication, but rather a more complex calculation.
  • #1
lightuplightup
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Hello- is it possible to convert MeV to V? If so, how is it done? For example if a particle is emmitted with an energy of 4.19MeV- how can this be changed into V? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
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  • #2
They are not teh same unit of measure. eV is a unit of energy (1.602 x 10^19 ev = 1 Joule) and V is electrical potential. I think my intro to modern physics said its the energy required to move an electron through a 1 volt potential
 
  • #3
lightuplightup said:
Hello- is it possible to convert MeV to V?

Is it possible to convert apples to oranges? The MeV (mega-electron-volt) is a unit of energy. The V (volt) is a unit of electrical potential difference.

The volt and the electron-volt are related in that if you take a particle that has a charge equal in magnitude to that on an electron (1.6e-19 coulomb) and accelerate or decelerate it by sending it through a potential difference of one volt, it will gain or lose one electron-volt of energy (which is just another name for 1.6e-19 J of energy).

For example if a particle is emmitted with an energy of 4.19MeV- how can this be changed into V?

You can't change the 4.19 MeV into V because they're different kinds of physical quantities. But you can say that in order to bring the particle to a stop, you'd have to send it through a potential difference of -4.19 MV (megavolts).
 
  • #4
Simple newbie mistake. I was wondering how to convert eV to volts too. I saw it as "electron-volts" and "volts" and thought, pff, duh! has to be the same! lol.
 
  • #5
Pengwuino said:
They are not teh same unit of measure. eV is a unit of energy (1.602 x 10^19 ev = 1 Joule) and V is electrical potential. I think my intro to modern physics said its the energy required to move an electron through a 1 volt potential

You may want to rethink that... :wink:

Daniel.
 
  • #6
What, what's wrong with that?
 
  • #7
Everything.

[tex] 1eV\simeq 1.6\cdot 10^{-19}J [/tex]

DO you see the difference...?

Daniel.
 
  • #8
edited for screwing this up myself too.
 
Last edited:
  • #9
Somehow...thinking if 1.602e^-19 J = 1eV then shouldn't 1.602e^19 eV = 1J... I have yet to do a homework problem or exam problem where i got the answer wrong... maybe its because i was rarely ever asked for an answer in Joules...
 
  • #10
No. Think about it. What do you divide 1.602e^-19 by to make it equal to 1?
 
  • #11
Pengwuino said:
Somehow...thinking if 1.602e^-19 J = 1eV then shouldn't 1.602e^19 eV = 1J... I have yet to do a homework problem or exam problem where i got the answer wrong... maybe its because i was rarely ever asked for an answer in Joules...

Need to review your scientific notation.

2E-03 = 0.002

The inverse of 2E-03 is not 2E+03 = 2000

Since 2000 * 0.002 = 4.
 
  • #12
Obviously all i thought was "pff, to get 1.602e^-19 to equal 1, you must multiply it by 1.602e^19! ". Just one of those things that for some reason, all your knowledge takes a day off and you think of the most assanine way of converting something.
 
  • #13
lol i like how the google targeted search result shows an advertisement for "Adult/Youth Basic Skills"
 

FAQ: Convert MeV to V: How?

How do I convert MeV to V?

To convert MeV (megaelectronvolts) to V (volts), you can use the formula V = E/q, where E is the energy in MeV and q is the charge of the particle in coulombs. This formula is based on the relationship between energy and voltage, where one electronvolt is equal to one volt.

Why do we need to convert MeV to V?

Converting MeV to V is necessary for many scientific and technological applications, especially in the fields of physics and engineering. It allows us to measure and express the energy of particles in terms of voltage, which is a more practical unit for many purposes.

Is there a conversion factor for MeV to V?

No, there is no single conversion factor for MeV to V. As mentioned before, the conversion depends on the charge of the particle. For example, to convert MeV to V for an electron, you would use the charge of an electron (1.602 x 10^-19 C) in the formula V = E/q. For a proton, you would use the charge of a proton (1.602 x 10^-19 C).

Can I use a calculator for converting MeV to V?

Yes, you can use a calculator to perform the conversion. However, make sure to use the correct charge value for the specific particle you are working with. Also, be aware of any rounding errors that may occur.

Are there any other units that can be used to express energy besides MeV and V?

Yes, there are many other units used to express energy, such as joules, kilowatt-hours, and ergs. However, MeV and V are commonly used in scientific and technological contexts, especially when dealing with subatomic particles and their interactions.

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