What are the Units of Energy?
Energy can be expressed using different units of measurement. The basic energy units include:
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Joule (J): It is the fundamental unit of energy used in the International System of Units (SI). One joule is equal to the energy required to move an object with a force of one newton over a distance of one meter.
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Calorie (cal): Another unit used to measure energy, often employed to express the energy content of food. One calorie is equal to the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.
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Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): This unit is a commercial measure of electrical energy. A kilowatt-hour represents the energy consumed by a device with a power rating of one kilowatt running for one hour.
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British Thermal Unit (BTU): This unit is commonly used to measure energy content, particularly in heating and air conditioning systems. One BTU is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
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Erg: The basic unit of energy in the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) system. An erg is the amount of energy required to move an object with a force of one dyne over a distance of one centimeter.
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Watt-Hour (Wh): This unit is used to measure electrical energy consumption. A watt-hour represents the energy consumed by a device with a power rating of one watt running for one hour.
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- These units are used to measure and express energy in various contexts, commonly applied in fields such as physics, engineering, and the energy sector.
