Relativistic Energies and GeV

Edexcel A-level PhysicsParticle PhysicsLesson 7 of 19

Particle energies are usually given in electronvolts. One electronvolt is the energy transferred when an electron moves through a p.d. of 1 V:

1 eV = 1.6 × 10^-19 J

Larger units: 1 MeV = 10⁶ eV = 1.6 × 10^-13 J, and 1 GeV = 10⁹ eV = 1.6 × 10^-10 J. Modern accelerators reach GeV and even TeV energies.

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rest energy: The energy equivalent of a particle's mass when it is at rest, given by E equals mc squared.