Joule facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joule |
|
|---|---|
| Unit system | SI derived unit |
| Unit of | Energy |
| Symbol | J |
| Named after | James Prescott Joule |
| Conversions | |
| 1 J in ... | ... is equal to ... |
| SI base units | 1 kg·m2/s2 |
| CGS units | 1×107 erg |
| kilowatt hours | 2.78×10−7 kW⋅h |
| kilocalories | 2.39×10−4 kcal |
| BTUs | 9.48×10−4 BTU |
| electronvolts | 6.24×1018 eV |
A joule (pronounced "jool") is a special unit used in science. It helps us measure energy. Think of energy as the ability to do work or make things happen. The joule is part of the SI system, which is like a worldwide standard for measurements.
This unit is named after a famous scientist, James Prescott Joule. He did a lot of important work on heat and energy.
What is a Joule?
A joule tells us how much energy is moved or used. Imagine pushing something. If you push an object with a force of 1 newton (about the force needed to hold a small apple) for a distance of 1 metre, you've used 1 joule of energy. So, 1 joule equals 1 newton multiplied by 1 meter (1 J = 1 N × 1 m).
Joule and Power
The joule is closely linked to another unit called the watt. A watt measures power, which is how fast energy is used or transferred. If you use 1 joule of energy every second, that's equal to 1 watt of power.
Joule in Electricity
You can also find joules when talking about electricity. If an Electric current of 1 ampere flows through an electric circuit for 1 second, and the circuit has a resistance of 1 ohm, then 1 joule of work is done. This shows how energy is used in electrical devices.
See also
