Question T5B03
From subelement T5 - T5B
Which is equal to one kilovolt?
Why is this correct?
One kilovolt equals one thousand volts. The prefix 'kilo' means 1,000 in the metric system. To convert from kilovolts to volts, you multiply by 1,000. Choice A (one one-thousandth) describes a millivolt, choice B (one hundred) has no standard prefix equivalent, and choice D (one million) describes a megavolt.
Memory tip
Master metric prefixes by remembering the thousand-based pattern: milli (÷1000), base unit, kilo (×1000), mega (×1,000,000). Each step up multiplies by 1000, each step down divides by 1000. This pattern applies to all electrical units.
Learn more
In amateur radio operations, understanding voltage scales is crucial for equipment specifications and safety. Your handheld transceiver operates around 7-12 volts, while household AC voltage is about 120 volts (0.12 kilovolts). High-voltage vacuum tube amplifiers might use several kilovolts on their plates. The FCC requires proper station grounding and RF exposure calculations that often involve these voltage conversions in real amateur radio installations.
Think about it
Why do you think amateur radio equipment specifications commonly use different voltage units (millivolts for weak signals, volts for power supplies, kilovolts for amplifier plates) rather than expressing everything in the same unit?