joule

¹ American  

[jool, joul] / dʒul, dʒaʊl /

noun

Physics.

1. the standard unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the work done by a force of one newton when its point of application moves through a distance of one meter in the direction of the force: equivalent to 10 7 ergs and one watt-second. J, j

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Joule ² American  

[jool, joul] / dʒul, dʒaʊl /

noun

1. James Prescott, 1818–89, English physicist.

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Joule ¹ British  

/ dʒuːl /

noun

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

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joule ² British  

/ dʒuːl /

noun

1.  J.  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, 10 ⁷ ergs, 0.2390 calories, or 0.738 foot-pound

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Joule ¹ Scientific  

1. British physicist who demonstrated that heat is a form of energy. His work established the law of conservation of energy, stating that energy is never destroyed but may be converted from one form into another. The joule unit of energy is named for him.

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joule ² Scientific  

/ jo̅o̅l,joul /

1. The SI derived unit used to measure energy or work. One joule is equal to the energy used to accelerate a body with a mass of one kilogram using one newton of force over a distance of one meter. One joule is also equivalent to one watt-second.

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Etymology

Origin of joule

First recorded in 1885–90; named after J. P. Joule

Example Sentences

This triggered a fusion reaction that released 3 million joules.

From Salon

Its value depends on ambient temperature: in your living room, one Landauer would be around 10–21 joule.

From Scientific American

Flash joule heating just means that, rather than building up heat over time, a large initial current is passed through the material, which causes an intense burst of heat.

From Salon

One more joule of energy and it would have maintained its line and dropped.

From The Guardian

And what a blast it would be: The scientists calculated that it would take about 5 times 10^54 joules of energy to create such a cavity.

From Scientific American