A kilovolt (kV) is a unit of electrical potential equal to 1,000 volts. This unit is commonly used in applications involving high voltage levels, such as power transmission lines, X-ray machines, and large-scale industrial applications. Interestingly, the electrical grid often operates in the range of hundreds of kilovolts to efficiently transmit power over vast distances, reducing energy losses due to resistance.
In medical imaging, the kilovolt is crucial for generating the high energy necessary for X-rays to penetrate body tissues and create images, defining the clarity and depth of the scans. High voltage equipment requires careful handling and respect, given its capacity to deliver substantial energy, illustrating the pivotal role kilovolts play in both everyday power consumption and specialized applications.
A megavolt is an electrifying unit of voltage equivalent to one million volts. While it’s a colossal amount of electrical potential, megavolts are not just theoretical—they have practical applications, such as in the operation of particle accelerators. These scientific marvels use megavolts to propel particles to high speeds, allowing physicists to delve into the mysteries of the universe by simulating conditions akin to those just after the Big Bang.
In the world of natural phenomena, lightning bolts can occasionally reach megavolt levels of voltage. A single lightning strike can spike well over a hundred million volts, showcasing nature’s awesome and hazardous power. This immense voltage is enough to travel through air, ionizing it and creating the brilliant, crackling illumination we often witness in a thunderstorm.
| Kilovolts | Megavolts |
|---|---|
0
kV
|
0
MV
|
1
kV
|
0.001
MV
|
2
kV
|
0.002
MV
|
3
kV
|
0.003
MV
|
4
kV
|
0.004
MV
|
5
kV
|
0.005
MV
|
6
kV
|
0.006
MV
|
7
kV
|
0.007
MV
|
8
kV
|
0.008
MV
|
9
kV
|
0.009
MV
|
10
kV
|
0.01
MV
|
11
kV
|
0.011
MV
|
12
kV
|
0.012
MV
|
13
kV
|
0.013
MV
|
14
kV
|
0.014
MV
|
15
kV
|
0.015
MV
|
16
kV
|
0.016
MV
|
17
kV
|
0.017
MV
|
18
kV
|
0.018
MV
|
19
kV
|
0.019
MV
|
20
kV
|
0.02
MV
|
21
kV
|
0.021
MV
|
22
kV
|
0.022
MV
|
23
kV
|
0.023
MV
|
24
kV
|
0.024
MV
|
25
kV
|
0.025
MV
|
26
kV
|
0.026
MV
|
27
kV
|
0.027
MV
|
28
kV
|
0.028
MV
|
29
kV
|
0.029
MV
|
30
kV
|
0.03
MV
|
31
kV
|
0.031
MV
|
32
kV
|
0.032
MV
|
33
kV
|
0.033
MV
|
34
kV
|
0.034
MV
|
35
kV
|
0.035
MV
|
36
kV
|
0.036
MV
|
37
kV
|
0.037
MV
|
38
kV
|
0.038
MV
|
39
kV
|
0.039
MV
|
40
kV
|
0.04
MV
|
41
kV
|
0.041
MV
|
42
kV
|
0.042
MV
|
43
kV
|
0.043
MV
|
44
kV
|
0.044
MV
|
45
kV
|
0.045
MV
|
46
kV
|
0.046
MV
|
47
kV
|
0.047
MV
|
48
kV
|
0.048
MV
|
49
kV
|
0.049
MV
|
50
kV
|
0.05
MV
|
51
kV
|
0.051
MV
|
52
kV
|
0.052
MV
|
53
kV
|
0.053
MV
|
54
kV
|
0.054
MV
|
55
kV
|
0.055
MV
|
56
kV
|
0.056
MV
|
57
kV
|
0.057
MV
|
58
kV
|
0.058
MV
|
59
kV
|
0.059
MV
|
60
kV
|
0.06
MV
|
61
kV
|
0.061
MV
|
62
kV
|
0.062
MV
|
63
kV
|
0.063
MV
|
64
kV
|
0.064
MV
|
65
kV
|
0.065
MV
|
66
kV
|
0.066
MV
|
67
kV
|
0.067
MV
|
68
kV
|
0.068
MV
|
69
kV
|
0.069
MV
|
70
kV
|
0.07
MV
|
71
kV
|
0.071
MV
|
72
kV
|
0.072
MV
|
73
kV
|
0.073
MV
|
74
kV
|
0.074
MV
|
75
kV
|
0.075
MV
|
76
kV
|
0.076
MV
|
77
kV
|
0.077
MV
|
78
kV
|
0.078
MV
|
79
kV
|
0.079
MV
|
80
kV
|
0.08
MV
|
81
kV
|
0.081
MV
|
82
kV
|
0.082
MV
|
83
kV
|
0.083
MV
|
84
kV
|
0.084
MV
|
85
kV
|
0.085
MV
|
86
kV
|
0.086
MV
|
87
kV
|
0.087
MV
|
88
kV
|
0.088
MV
|
89
kV
|
0.089
MV
|
90
kV
|
0.09
MV
|
91
kV
|
0.091
MV
|
92
kV
|
0.092
MV
|
93
kV
|
0.093
MV
|
94
kV
|
0.094
MV
|
95
kV
|
0.095
MV
|
96
kV
|
0.096
MV
|
97
kV
|
0.097
MV
|
98
kV
|
0.098
MV
|
99
kV
|
0.099
MV
|
100
kV
|
0.1
MV
|
| Conversion | Call to Action |
|---|---|
| Kilovolts to Volts | Go to converter |
| Kilovolts to Microvolts | Go to converter |
| Kilovolts to Millivolts | Go to converter |