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.
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.
| Megavolts | Kilovolts |
|---|---|
0
MV
|
0
kV
|
0.1
MV
|
100
kV
|
0.2
MV
|
200
kV
|
0.3
MV
|
300
kV
|
0.4
MV
|
400
kV
|
0.5
MV
|
500
kV
|
0.6
MV
|
600
kV
|
0.7
MV
|
700
kV
|
0.8
MV
|
800
kV
|
0.9
MV
|
900
kV
|
1
MV
|
1000
kV
|
1.1
MV
|
1100
kV
|
1.2
MV
|
1200
kV
|
1.3
MV
|
1300
kV
|
1.4
MV
|
1400
kV
|
1.5
MV
|
1500
kV
|
1.6
MV
|
1600
kV
|
1.7
MV
|
1700
kV
|
1.8
MV
|
1800
kV
|
1.9
MV
|
1900
kV
|
2
MV
|
2000
kV
|
2.1
MV
|
2100
kV
|
2.2
MV
|
2200
kV
|
2.3
MV
|
2300
kV
|
2.4
MV
|
2400
kV
|
2.5
MV
|
2500
kV
|
2.6
MV
|
2600
kV
|
2.7
MV
|
2700
kV
|
2.8
MV
|
2800
kV
|
2.9
MV
|
2900
kV
|
3
MV
|
3000
kV
|
3.1
MV
|
3100
kV
|
3.2
MV
|
3200
kV
|
3.3
MV
|
3300
kV
|
3.4
MV
|
3400
kV
|
3.5
MV
|
3500
kV
|
3.6
MV
|
3600
kV
|
3.7
MV
|
3700
kV
|
3.8
MV
|
3800
kV
|
3.9
MV
|
3900
kV
|
4
MV
|
4000
kV
|
4.1
MV
|
4100
kV
|
4.2
MV
|
4200
kV
|
4.3
MV
|
4300
kV
|
4.4
MV
|
4400
kV
|
4.5
MV
|
4500
kV
|
4.6
MV
|
4600
kV
|
4.7
MV
|
4700
kV
|
4.8
MV
|
4800
kV
|
4.9
MV
|
4900
kV
|
5
MV
|
5000
kV
|
5.1
MV
|
5100
kV
|
5.2
MV
|
5200
kV
|
5.3
MV
|
5300
kV
|
5.4
MV
|
5400
kV
|
5.5
MV
|
5500
kV
|
5.6
MV
|
5600
kV
|
5.7
MV
|
5700
kV
|
5.8
MV
|
5800
kV
|
5.9
MV
|
5900
kV
|
6
MV
|
6000
kV
|
6.1
MV
|
6100
kV
|
6.2
MV
|
6200
kV
|
6.3
MV
|
6300
kV
|
6.4
MV
|
6400
kV
|
6.5
MV
|
6500
kV
|
6.6
MV
|
6600
kV
|
6.7
MV
|
6700
kV
|
6.8
MV
|
6800
kV
|
6.9
MV
|
6900
kV
|
7
MV
|
7000
kV
|
7.1
MV
|
7100
kV
|
7.2
MV
|
7200
kV
|
7.3
MV
|
7300
kV
|
7.4
MV
|
7400
kV
|
7.5
MV
|
7500
kV
|
7.6
MV
|
7600
kV
|
7.7
MV
|
7700
kV
|
7.8
MV
|
7800
kV
|
7.9
MV
|
7900
kV
|
8
MV
|
8000
kV
|
8.1
MV
|
8100
kV
|
8.2
MV
|
8200
kV
|
8.3
MV
|
8300
kV
|
8.4
MV
|
8400
kV
|
8.5
MV
|
8500
kV
|
8.6
MV
|
8600
kV
|
8.7
MV
|
8700
kV
|
8.8
MV
|
8800
kV
|
8.9
MV
|
8900
kV
|
9
MV
|
9000
kV
|
9.1
MV
|
9100
kV
|
9.2
MV
|
9200
kV
|
9.3
MV
|
9300
kV
|
9.4
MV
|
9400
kV
|
9.5
MV
|
9500
kV
|
9.6
MV
|
9600
kV
|
9.7
MV
|
9700
kV
|
9.8
MV
|
9800
kV
|
9.9
MV
|
9900
kV
|
10
MV
|
10000
kV
|
| Conversion | Call to Action |
|---|---|
| Megavolts to Volts | Go to converter |
| Megavolts to Microvolts | Go to converter |
| Megavolts to Millivolts | Go to converter |