Convert Electronvolts to Ergs
Convert Electronvolts (eV) to Ergs (erg) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
erg = eV × 1.602176634e-12
About Electronvolts
An electronvolt (eV) is the kinetic energy gained by one electron accelerated through 1 volt - exactly 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ J (fixed by the 2019 SI revision). It is the natural energy unit of atomic and particle physics: visible light photons carry 1.7-3.1 eV; hydrogen ionisation requires 13.6 eV; X-ray photons span 100 eV-100 keV; protons at the LHC reach 6.5 TeV. Rest masses use eV/c²: electron 0.511 MeV, proton 938.3 MeV, Higgs boson 125 GeV. Nuclear binding energy peaks at ~8 MeV/nucleon for iron-56. 1 eV = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ J.
About Ergs
An erg is the CGS unit of energy - the work done by one dyne through one centimetre - exactly 10⁻⁷ J. Despite SI adoption, the erg persists in astrophysics: the Sun's luminosity is 3.828 × 10³³ erg/s; gamma-ray burst isotropic energies are quoted in units of 10⁵¹ erg ('one foe'). Surface tension of water is 72.8 dyn/cm; the work to create 1 cm² of new water-air interface is 72.8 erg. Earthquake seismic moment M₀ is in dyn·cm = erg; the 2004 Boxing Day earthquake had M₀ ≈ 10²³ J = 10³⁰ erg. 1 erg = 10⁻⁷ J = 624.15 eV.
Quick Reference Table
| Electronvolts (eV) | Ergs (erg) |
|---|---|
| 1 eV | 1.602 × 10-12 erg |
| 2 eV | 3.204 × 10-12 erg |
| 5 eV | 8.011 × 10-12 erg |
| 10 eV | 1.602 × 10-11 erg |
| 25 eV | 4.005 × 10-11 erg |
| 50 eV | 8.011 × 10-11 erg |
| 100 eV | 1.602 × 10-10 erg |