1 electron volt is equal to

Options

A. `3.2*10^-12`J
B. `1.6*10^-16`J
C. `1.6*10^-19`J
D. `4.6*10^-20`J

Answer

To determine how much 1 electron volt (eV) is equal to in joules (J), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Definition of Electron Volt**:
- An electron volt is defined as the amount of work done when an electron is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 1 volt.

2. **Use the Formula for Work Done**:
- The work done (W) can be calculated using the formula:
\[ W = Q \times V \]
where \( Q \) is the charge and \( V \) is the potential difference.

3. **Identify the Charge of an Electron**:
- The charge of an electron is approximately:
\[ Q = 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ coulombs} \]

4. **Substitute the Values**:
- Since we are considering a potential difference of 1 volt:
\[ W = (1.6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}) \times (1 \text{ V}) \]

5. **Calculate the Work Done**:
- Since 1 volt is equivalent to 1 joule per coulomb (1 V = 1 J/C), we can rewrite the equation as:
\[ W = 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ J} \]

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, 1 electron volt is equal to:
\[ 1 \text{ eV} = 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \text{ J} \]

### Final Answer:
1 electron volt is equal to \( 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \) joules.

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