Coulomb - Relation To Elementary Charge

Relation To Elementary Charge

The elementary charge, the charge of a proton (equivalently, the negative of the charge of an electron), is approximately 1.602176487(40)×10−19 C. In SI, the elementary charge in coulombs is an approximate value: no experiment can be infinitely accurate. However, in other unit systems, the elementary charge has an exact value by definition, and other charges are ultimately measured relative to the elementary charge. For example, in conventional electrical units, the values of the Josephson constant KJ and von Klitzing constant RK are exact defined values (written KJ-90 and RK-90), and it follows that the elementary charge is also an exact defined value in this unit system. Specifically, exactly. SI itself may someday change its definitions in a similar way. For example, one possible proposed redefinition is "the ampere...is such that the value of the elementary charge e (charge on a proton) is exactly 1.602176487×10−19 coulomb" This proposal is not yet accepted as part of the SI system: The SI definitions are unlikely to change until at least 2015.

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