joule

joule   (jōōl, joul)    n.   Abbr. J or j The International System unit of electrical, mechanical, and thermal energy. A unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere is passed through a resistance of one ohm for one second. A unit of energy equal to the work done when a force of one newton acts through a distance of one meter. See Table at measurement. [After James Prescott Joule.]

joule 

Main Entry: joule
Pronunciation: 'jü(&)l
Function: noun
: a unit of work or energy equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through adistance of one meter
Joule, James Prescott (1818–1889), British physicist. Joule is famous for his experiments on heat. In a series of investigations he demonstratedthat heat is a form of energy (regardless of the substance that is heated) and later determined quantitatively the amount of mechanical and electrical energy expended in the generation of heat energy.In 1843 he published his value for the amount of work required to produce a unit of heat, now known as the mechanical equivalent of heat. He established the principle that various forms of energy— mechanical, electrical, and heat — are basically the same and are interchangeable. This principle forms the basis of conservation of energy. The joule unit of work or energy was named inhis honor in 1882.

joule (j&oomacr;l, joul)
n.
Abbr. J

1. The International System unit of electrical, mechanical, and thermal energy.

2. A unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of 1 ampere is passed through a resistance of 1 ohm for 1 second.

3. A unit of energy equal to the work done when a force of 1 newton acts through a distance of 1 meter.

joule

unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre. Named in honour of the English physicist James Prescott Joule, it equals 107 ergs, or approximately 0.7377 foot-pounds. In electrical terms, the joule equals one watt-second-i.e., the energy released in one second by a current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm.

Learn more about joule with a free trial on Britannica.com.