Energy

One-gigaelectronvolt cosmic-ray proton

A one-gigaelectronvolt cosmic-ray proton is a hydrogen nucleus travelling through space with a kinetic energy of 1 GeV.

Also known as: 1 GeV proton

How big is it?

1.602 × 10⁻¹⁰ J of energy

Energy per proton · exact conversion

Scale illustration of One-gigaelectronvolt cosmic-ray proton, calibrated to its energy per proton measurement.
The marked energy per proton represents 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁰ J.

A little perspective

About 56.8 times the released energy per reaction of Deuterium–tritium fusion reaction energy.

Deuterium–tritium fusion reaction energy: Deuterium–tritium fusion reaction energy is the amount of energy released when a deuterium nucleus fuses with a tritium nucleus, producing a neutron and an alpha particle.

Linear measure
ENERGY STORED OR TRANSFERRED1.602 × 10⁻¹⁰ J2.82 × 10⁻¹² J
01
One-gigaelectronvolt cosmic-ray proton1.602 × 10⁻¹⁰ JEnergy per proton
02
Deuterium–tritium fusion reaction energy2.82 × 10⁻¹² JReleased energy per reaction
Bar length represents energy. Equal energy does not imply the same temperature, power or usefulness.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +

One-gigaelectronvolt cosmic-ray proton

A proton energy of exactly 1 GeV converts to 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁰ J using the exact SI electronvolt conversion. “Cosmic ray” describes the particle context, not an additional energy uncertainty.

NIST — 2022 CODATA fundamental constants

The marked energy per proton is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

Deuterium–tritium fusion reaction energy

One D–T fusion reaction releases about 17.6 MeV, or 2.82 × 10⁻¹² J, shared mainly by a neutron and an alpha particle. This is per reaction, not reactor output.

IAEA — Deuterium–tritium fusion

The marked released energy per reaction is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

Change your perspective

Put it next to…

Choose a suggestion to redraw the comparison, or open its page to learn what it is.

About this thing
About this thing
About this thing
About this thing
About this thing
About this thing

The full collection

Choose something to compare.

Loading compatible things…

Why this measurement?

Why we use 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁰ J

For comparison, this page uses energy per proton. The record labels this value exact conversion, so the stated convention rather than an inferred average controls the comparison.

A proton energy of exactly 1 GeV converts to 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁰ J using the exact SI electronvolt conversion. “Cosmic ray” describes the particle context, not an additional energy uncertainty.

The identifying illustration and the numerical comparison remain separate. How calibrated comparisons work →

Explore energy →

Recorded properties

One-gigaelectronvolt cosmic-ray proton dimensions and measurements

PropertySelected valueRecorded rangeBasis
1.602 × 10⁻¹⁰ JNot recordedexact conversion

Around this scale

Go smaller. Go bigger.

These links use compatible energy records, ordered around the selected value.

Sources and method

Want to check the number?

The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.

Read the measurement and artwork methodology →

There’s always another scale

Follow your curiosity.

Explore things ↗

Share a little perspective.