Definition:Boltzmann's Constant

Definition

Boltzmann's constant is the constant of proportion that relates the average relative thermal energy of particles in a gas with the thermodynamic temperature of the gas.

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Symbol

$k$

The symbol for Boltzmann's constant is $k$.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is k .

Dimension

Boltzmann's constant has the dimension $\mathsf {M L^2 T^{-2} \Theta^{-1} }$.

Units

The SI unit for Boltzmann's constant is given as joules per kelvin: $\mathrm {J \, K^{-1} }$

The CGS unit for Boltzmann's constant is given as ergs per kelvin: $\mathrm {erg \, K^{-1} }$

Value

The value of Boltzmann's constant is defined to be exactly:

\(\ds k\)

\(=\)

\(\ds 1 \cdotp 38064 \, 9 \times 10^{-23} \, \mathrm {J \, K^{-1} }\)

exactly

\(\quad\) This sequence is A070063 in the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (N. J. A. Sloane (Ed.), 2008).

\(\ds \)

\(=\)

\(\ds 1 \cdotp 38064 \, 9 \times 10^{-16} \, \mathrm {erg \, K^{-1} }\)

exactly

Also known as

Boltzmann's constant is also known as the Boltzmann constant.

Also see

• Definition:Stefan-Boltzmann Constant: not to be confused with this

Source of Name

This entry was named for Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann.

Sources

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