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Physics LibreTexts

Appendix C: Fundamental Constants

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Note: These constants are the values recommended in 2006 by CODATA, based on a least-squares adjustment of data from different measurements. The numbers in parentheses for the values represent the uncertainties of the last two digits.

* c is the speed of light

Quantity Symbol Value
Atomic mass unit u

1.660 538 782 (83) x 10−27 kg

931.494 028 (23) MeV/c2 *

Avogadro’s number NA 6.022 141 79 (30) x 1023 particles/mol
Bohr magneton μB=e2me 9.274 009 15 (23) x 10−24 J/T
Bohr radius a0=2mee2ke 5.291 772 085 9 (36) x 10−11 m
Boltzmann’s constant kB=RNA 1.380 650 4 (24) x 10−23 J/K
Compton wavelength λC=hmec 2.426 310 217 5 (33) x 10−12 m
Coulomb constant ke=14πε0 8.987 551 788... x 109 N • m2/C2 (exact)
Deuteron mass md

9.109 382 15 (45) x 10−31 kg

5.485 799 094 3(23) x 10−4 u

0.510 998 910 (13) MeV/c2 *

Electron mass me

9.109 382 15 (45) x 10−31 kg

5.485 799 094 3(23) x 10−4 u

0.510 998 910 (13) MeV/c2 *

Electron volt eV 1.602 176 487 (40) x 10−19 J
Elementary charge e 1.602 176 487 (40) x 10−19 C
Gas constant R 8.314 472 (15) J/mol • K
Gravitational constant G 6.674 28 (67) x 10−11 N • m2/kg2
Neutron mass mn

1.674 927 211 (84) x 10−27 kg

1.008 664 915 97 (43) u

939.565 346 (23) MeV/c2 *

Nuclear magneton μn=e2mp 5.050 783 24 (13) x 10−27 J/T
Permeability of free space μ0 4π x 10−7 T • m/A (exact)
Permittivity of free space ε0=1μ0c2 8.854 187 817... x 10−12 C2/N • m2 (exact)
Planck’s constant h 6.626 068 96 (33) x 10−34 J • s
Reduced Planck's constant =h2π 1.054 571 628 (53) x 10−34 J • s
Proton mass mp

1.672 621 637 (83) x 10−27 kg

1.007 276 466 77 (10) u

938.272 013 (23) MeV/c2 *

Rydberg constant RH 1.097 373 156 852 7 (73) x 107 m−1
Speed of light in vacuum c 2.997 924 58 x 108 m/s (exact)

Useful combinations of constants for calculations:

  • hc = 12,400 eV • Å = 1240 eV • nm = 1240 MeV • fm
  • c = 1973 eV • Å = 197.3 eV • nm = 197.3 MeV • fm
  • kee2 = 14.40 eV • Å = 1.440 eV • nm = 1.440 MeV • fm
  • kBT = 0.02585 eV at T = 300 K

Contributors and Attributions

  • Samuel J. Ling (Truman State University), Jeff Sanny (Loyola Marymount University), and Bill Moebs with many contributing authors. This work is licensed by OpenStax University Physics under a Creative Commons Attribution License (by 4.0).


Appendix C: Fundamental Constants is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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