joule

joule

joule (jo͞ol, joul), abbr. J, unit of work or energy in the mks system of units, which is based on the metric system; it is the work done or energy expended by a force of 1 newton acting through a distance of 1 meter. The joule is named for James P. Joule.

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joule

(jool) Symbol: J. The SI unit of energy, equal to the work done when the point of application of a force of one newton is moved one meter in the direction of the force.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Joule

 

a unit of energy and work in the International System of Units and the MKSA (meter-kilogram-second-ampere) system. It is equal to the work done by a force of 1 newton in moving a body 1 m in the direction of the force. It is named in honor of the English physicist J. Joule. In Russian the symbol is dzh; the international symbol is J.

At the Second World Conference of Electrical Engineers (1889) the joule was introduced into the absolute practical electrical units as the unit of work and energy for electric current. The joule was defined as the work done at a power of 1 watt in 1 second. The International Conference on Electrical Units and Standards (London, 1908) established “international” electrical units, among them the so-called international joule. After the return to absolute electrical units (beginning Jan. 1, 1948), the ratio of 1 international joule to 1.00020 absolute joules was adopted.

The joule is also used as a unit of quantity of heat. The ratio of the joule to other units is as follows: 1 joule = 10⁷ ergs = 0.2388 calories.

G. D. BURDUN

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

joule

[jül or jau̇l]

(mechanics)

The unit of energy or work in the meter-kilogram-second system of units, equal to the work done by a force of 1 newton magnitude when the point at which the force is applied is displaced 1 meter in the direction of the force. Symbolized J. Also known as newton-meter of energy.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

joule

A unit of energy or work; equals the work done by a force of 1 newton which acts over a distance of 1 metre in the direction of the force.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

joule

the derived SI unit of work or energy; the work done when the point of application of a force of 1 newton is displaced through a distance of 1 metre in the direction of the force. 1 joule is equivalent to 1 watt-second, 10⁷ ergs, 0.2390 calories, or 0.738 foot-pound

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Joule

James Prescott. 1818--89, English physicist, who evaluated the mechanical equivalent of heat and contributed to the study of heat and electricity

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

joule

A unit of energy in the MKS system. It is equal to 10,000,000 ergs in the CGS system. Surge protectors are often given joule ratings, but this refers only to the amount of energy they can absorb, not what gets through. See CGS system.

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