Units of energy

From WikiMD.com Medical Encyclopedia

Units of Energy[edit | edit source]

Units of energy are measurements used to quantify the amount of energy. Energy is a fundamental concept in physics and is essential in various fields such as engineering, chemistry, and environmental science. Different units are used depending on the context and the scale of energy being measured.

Common Units of Energy[edit | edit source]

Joule[edit | edit source]

The joule (symbol: J) is the SI unit of energy. It is defined as the amount of energy transferred when a force of one newton is applied over a distance of one meter. The joule is named after the English physicist James Prescott Joule.

Calorie[edit | edit source]

The calorie (symbol: cal) is a unit of energy commonly used in nutrition. It is defined as the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. The kilocalorie (kcal), often referred to as the "Calorie" with a capital C, is used to express the energy content in food.

Kilowatt-hour[edit | edit source]

The kilowatt-hour (symbol: kWh) is a unit of energy commonly used to measure electrical energy consumption. It is defined as the amount of energy consumed by a device with a power of one kilowatt running for one hour.

Electronvolt[edit | edit source]

The electronvolt (symbol: eV) is a unit of energy commonly used in the field of particle physics. It is defined as the amount of kinetic energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated through an electric potential difference of one volt.

Conversion Between Units[edit | edit source]

Energy units can be converted from one to another using conversion factors. For example, 1 calorie is approximately equal to 4.184 joules, and 1 kilowatt-hour is equal to 3.6 million joules.

Logarithmic scale of energy units

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD