Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The joule (/ dʒ uː l / JOOL, or / dʒ aʊ l / JOWL; symbol: J) is the unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI). [1] In terms of SI base units, one joule corresponds to one kilogram-square metre per square second (1 J = 1 kg⋅m 2 ⋅s −2).
Energy is defined via work, so the SI unit of energy is the same as the unit of work – the joule (J), named in honour of James Prescott Joule [1] and his experiments on the mechanical equivalent of heat. In slightly more fundamental terms, 1 joule is equal to 1 newton metre and, in terms of SI base units
It is also part of the United States customary units. [1] The SI unit for energy is the joule (J); one Btu equals about 1,055 J (varying within the range of 1,054–1,060 J depending on the specific definition of BTU; see below). While units of heat are often supplanted by energy units in scientific work, they are still used in some fields.
Symbol [1] Name of quantity Unit name Symbol Base units E energy: joule: J = C⋅V = W⋅s kg⋅m 2 ⋅s −2: Q electric charge: coulomb: C A⋅s I electric current: ampere
Conversions between units in the metric system are defined by their prefixes (for example, 1 kilogram = 1000 grams, 1 milligram = 0.001 grams) and are thus not listed in this article. Exceptions are made if the unit is commonly known by another name (for example, 1 micron = 10 −6 metre).
However energy can also be expressed in many other units not part of the SI, such as ergs, calories, British thermal units, kilowatt-hours and kilocalories, which require a conversion factor when expressed in SI units. The SI unit of power, defined as energy per unit of time, is the watt, which is a joule per second. Thus, one joule is one watt ...
The joule is named after James Prescott Joule. As with every SI unit named for a person, its symbol starts with an upper case letter (J), but when written in full, it follows the rules for capitalisation of a common noun; i.e., joule becomes capitalised at the beginning of a sentence and in titles but is otherwise in lower case.
The SI unit for specific heat capacity is joule per kelvin per kilogram J / kg⋅K , J⋅K −1 ⋅kg −1. Since an increment of temperature of one degree Celsius is the same as an increment of one kelvin, that is the same as joule per degree Celsius per kilogram: J/(kg⋅°C).