- #1
joker314
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Homework Statement
In a particular semiconductor device, electrons that are accelerated through a potential of 5 V attempt to tunnel through a barrier of width 0.8 nm and height 10 V. What fraction of the electrons are able to tunnel through the barrier if the potential is zero outside the barrier?
Homework Equations
k= (2m(V-E)/h)^1/2
E=mc^2
The Attempt at a Solution
This is an example problem in my textbook that is very similar to a homework problem. When solving for k, the value the book inserts for "m" is "0.511 x 10^6 eV / c^2"
I deduced this is a substitution for m by rearranging E=mc^2 . What I do not understand is what this "E" value of 0.511 x 10^6 represents. When I divide that by the speed of light squared it does not equal the mass of an electron (9.10938188 × 10-31 kilograms) like i think it should, isntead it equals 5.677 x 10^-12