Joule

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  joule \joule\ (j[=oo]l), n. [From the distinguished English
     physicist, James Prescott Joule (1818-1889).] (Physics.)
     A unit of work which is equal to 10^{7} ergs (the unit of
     work in the C. G. S. system of units), and is equivalent to
     one watt-second, the energy expended in one second by an
     electric current of one ampere in a resistance of one ohm;


     also called the {absolute joule}. It is abbreviated J or j.
     The {international joule} is slightly larger, being 1.000167
     times the absolute joule. The absolute joule is approximately
     equal to 0.737562 foot pounds, 0.239006 gram-calories (small
     calories), and 3.72506 x 10^{-7} horsepower-hours, and
     0.000948451 B.t.u. --HCP61
     [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     {Joule's equivalent}. See under {Equivalent}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  joule
       n 1: a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a
            current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one
            ohm for one second [syn: {J}, {watt second}]
       2: English physicist who established the mechanical theory of
          heat and discovered the first law of thermodynamics
          (1818-1889) [syn: {James Prescott Joule}]