In what unit is energy measured?

Energy is measured in joules (J), which is the standard SI unit for energy. One joule is defined as the amount of energy transferred when a force of one newton is applied over a distance of one meter. This measurement encompasses various forms of energy, including potential energy, kinetic energy, mechanical work, and thermal energy.

Calories (Cal), while also a unit of energy, are more commonly used in the context of food and nutrition. For scientific purposes, joules are favored due to their compatibility with other SI units, making them a universal standard for measuring energy across various disciplines.

Watts (W) measure power, which is the rate at which energy is transferred or converted. Specifically, one watt equals one joule per second, making it related to energy but not a unit of energy itself. Newtons (N) are the unit of force and measure the interaction that can change an object’s state of motion, distinct from energy measurement. Thus, joules remain the primary unit of energy in physics.