The volt, named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, is the derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force. Introduced in the late 19th century, the volt has driven technological advancements by enabling the precise quantification of electricity. While the volt may seem like a concept limited to engineers and scientists, it provides insights into everyday devices: a single AA battery typically delivers 1.5 volts, while a car battery operates around 12 volts.
Interestingly, the human body also operates on electrical principles. Nerve impulses, for instance, are transmitted through electrical signals typically ranging from 50 to 100 millivolts. This makes the volt not just a unit of measurement in the industrial and scientific realms but also a fundamental part of our biology and an integral force in powering the modern world.
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.
| Volts | Kilovolts |
|---|---|
0
V
|
0
kV
|
10
V
|
0.01
kV
|
20
V
|
0.02
kV
|
30
V
|
0.03
kV
|
40
V
|
0.04
kV
|
50
V
|
0.05
kV
|
60
V
|
0.06
kV
|
70
V
|
0.07
kV
|
80
V
|
0.08
kV
|
90
V
|
0.09
kV
|
100
V
|
0.1
kV
|
110
V
|
0.11
kV
|
120
V
|
0.12
kV
|
130
V
|
0.13
kV
|
140
V
|
0.14
kV
|
150
V
|
0.15
kV
|
160
V
|
0.16
kV
|
170
V
|
0.17
kV
|
180
V
|
0.18
kV
|
190
V
|
0.19
kV
|
200
V
|
0.2
kV
|
210
V
|
0.21
kV
|
220
V
|
0.22
kV
|
230
V
|
0.23
kV
|
240
V
|
0.24
kV
|
250
V
|
0.25
kV
|
260
V
|
0.26
kV
|
270
V
|
0.27
kV
|
280
V
|
0.28
kV
|
290
V
|
0.29
kV
|
300
V
|
0.3
kV
|
310
V
|
0.31
kV
|
320
V
|
0.32
kV
|
330
V
|
0.33
kV
|
340
V
|
0.34
kV
|
350
V
|
0.35
kV
|
360
V
|
0.36
kV
|
370
V
|
0.37
kV
|
380
V
|
0.38
kV
|
390
V
|
0.39
kV
|
400
V
|
0.4
kV
|
410
V
|
0.41
kV
|
420
V
|
0.42
kV
|
430
V
|
0.43
kV
|
440
V
|
0.44
kV
|
450
V
|
0.45
kV
|
460
V
|
0.46
kV
|
470
V
|
0.47
kV
|
480
V
|
0.48
kV
|
490
V
|
0.49
kV
|
500
V
|
0.5
kV
|
510
V
|
0.51
kV
|
520
V
|
0.52
kV
|
530
V
|
0.53
kV
|
540
V
|
0.54
kV
|
550
V
|
0.55
kV
|
560
V
|
0.56
kV
|
570
V
|
0.57
kV
|
580
V
|
0.58
kV
|
590
V
|
0.59
kV
|
600
V
|
0.6
kV
|
610
V
|
0.61
kV
|
620
V
|
0.62
kV
|
630
V
|
0.63
kV
|
640
V
|
0.64
kV
|
650
V
|
0.65
kV
|
660
V
|
0.66
kV
|
670
V
|
0.67
kV
|
680
V
|
0.68
kV
|
690
V
|
0.69
kV
|
700
V
|
0.7
kV
|
710
V
|
0.71
kV
|
720
V
|
0.72
kV
|
730
V
|
0.73
kV
|
740
V
|
0.74
kV
|
750
V
|
0.75
kV
|
760
V
|
0.76
kV
|
770
V
|
0.77
kV
|
780
V
|
0.78
kV
|
790
V
|
0.79
kV
|
800
V
|
0.8
kV
|
810
V
|
0.81
kV
|
820
V
|
0.82
kV
|
830
V
|
0.83
kV
|
840
V
|
0.84
kV
|
850
V
|
0.85
kV
|
860
V
|
0.86
kV
|
870
V
|
0.87
kV
|
880
V
|
0.88
kV
|
890
V
|
0.89
kV
|
900
V
|
0.9
kV
|
910
V
|
0.91
kV
|
920
V
|
0.92
kV
|
930
V
|
0.93
kV
|
940
V
|
0.94
kV
|
950
V
|
0.95
kV
|
960
V
|
0.96
kV
|
970
V
|
0.97
kV
|
980
V
|
0.98
kV
|
990
V
|
0.99
kV
|
1000
V
|
1
kV
|
| Conversion | Call to Action |
|---|---|
| Volts to Microvolts | Go to converter |
| Volts to Millivolts | Go to converter |
| Volts to Megavolts | Go to converter |