Electric Potential- quick question about process

[SuperCass]

Electric Potential-- quick question about process

Homework Statement

An alpha particle with kinetic energy 10 MeV makes a head-on collision with a lead nucleus at rest. What is the distance of closest approach of the two particles? (Assume that the lead nucleus remains stationary and that it may be treated as a point charge. The atomic number of lead is 82. The alpha particle is a helium nucleus, with atomic number 2.)

Homework Equations

V=kq/r

The Attempt at a Solution

http://www.solvephysics.com/electricity_problem26.shtml
I tried going by this site to solve this. I would just like to know why in the Einitial equation they multiply the 10MeV by 1.6e-19. Why do they do that? I don't understand.

Thanks!

 

[dr_k]

Homework Statement

An alpha particle with kinetic energy 10 MeV makes a head-on collision with a lead nucleus at rest. What is the distance of closest approach of the two particles? (Assume that the lead nucleus remains stationary and that it may be treated as a point charge. The atomic number of lead is 82. The alpha particle is a helium nucleus, with atomic number 2.)

Homework Equations

V=kq/r

The Attempt at a Solution

http://www.solvephysics.com/electricity_problem26.shtml
I tried going by this site to solve this. I would just like to know why in the Einitial equation they multiply the 10MeV by 1.6e-19. Why do they do that? I don't understand.

Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronvolt

 

[SuperCass]

Thank you so much, I would have never gotten that on my own!

 

[dr_k]

Thank you so much, I would have never gotten that on my own!

It should be in your textbook as well.