1.1. Fundamental constants

The table below lists relevant fundamental constants (based on the 2018 CODATA recommended values). Digits in parentheses indicate uncertainty, relative to the last digit. For example, 7.85(1) indicates 7.85±0.01, and 1.3454(12) indicates 1.3454±0.0012.

Several of the constants have zero uncertainty, since they are defined as exact values. (The SI base units kg, m, C, K, and mol are defined through these constants.)

Symbol

Name

Value

h

Planck constant

6.62607015×1034Js (exact)

reduced Planck constant

1.054571817...×1034Js (exact)

c

speed of light in vacuum

299792458ms1 (exact)

e

elementary charge

1.602176634×1019C (exact)

NA

Avogadro constant

6.02214076×1023mol1 (exact)

kB

Boltzmann constant

1.380649×1023JK1 (exact)

u

atomic mass unit

1.66053906660(50)×1027kg

me

electron mass

9.1093837015(28)×1031kg

mp

proton mass

1.67262192369(51)×1027kg

mn

neutron mass

1.67492749804(95)×1027kg

a0

Bohr radius

5.29177210903(80)×1011m

R

Rydberg constant

10973731.568160(21)m1

ϵ0

electric constant

8.8541878128(13)×1012C2J1m1

μB

Bohr magneton

9.2740100783(28)×1024JT1

μN

nuclear magneton

5.0507837461(15)×1027JT1