joule
noun
ˈjül
also nonstandard
ˈjau̇(-ə)l
: a unit of work or energy equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through a distance of one meter
Examples of joule in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These cells can store 2.5 x 109 joules per cubic meter.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 4 May 2024
That means the pyramid’s potential energy is about 2.4 trillion joules.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 May 2020
Weather models are projecting up to 150 joules per kilogram of convective energy across portions of Northern California.
—Gerry Díaz, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Mar. 2023
The instruments clocked the cosmic ray at about 240 exa-electron volts, or about 40 joules of energy.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
The Joule, the Calorie, and the (Other) Calorie In physics, our preferred unit for energy is the joule.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023
Someone absorbing four grays (equivalent to four joules of radiation energy per kilogram of body weight) would have a 50 percent chance of dying, but people sheltering in bigger buildings would receive smaller doses.
—Sébastien Philippe, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023
Your smartphone’s battery stores about 10,000 joules.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 14 July 2023
Gasoline stores about 34 million joules per liter (or 128 million joules per gallon).
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 14 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'joule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
James P. Joule
First Known Use
1882, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near joule
Cite this Entry
“Joule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joule. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
joule
noun
: a unit of work or energy equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through a distance of one meter
Medical Definition
joule
noun
: a unit of work or energy equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through a distance of one meter
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on joule
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about joule
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