Mechanical Energy Calculator Joules calculator helps you calculate the amount of kinetic energy an object has when it is in a moving position. You just need to put in how heavy an object is and how fast it’s going.
A joule is a standard unit for energy in the International System of Units (SI). It's like a measure of how much energy something has. The more joules an object has, the more potential it has to perform work or transfer energy
Joule Formula:
The total energy in joules can be calculated using the following formula:
\( KE = 0.5 \times m \times v^2 \)
Where,
- KE – represents the kinetic energy of the object, measured in joules (J)
- m – represents the mass of the object, measured in kilograms (kg)
- v – represents the velocity of the object, measured in meters per second (m/s)
You can calculate Joules by multiplying the mass by the velocity square and then multiplying the result by 0.5.
How to Calculate Joules?
The best way to calculate joules is using the joules calculator. But if your intention is to calculate it manually, follow the example shown below:
Example:
Let's say a car with a mass of 1,500 kilograms (kg) is traveling at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour (km/h). Calculate the car's kinetic energy in joules (J).
Solution:
Step 1: Convert the velocity from km/h to m/s
- 1 km/h is equal to 1000/3600 m/s. Therefore, the velocity of the car (in m/s) is:
- 50 km/h * (1000/3600 m/s/km/h) = 13.89 m/s
Step 2: Plug the values into the formula
Using the given values of mass (m = 1,500 kg) and velocity (v = 13.89 m/s), we can calculate the kinetic energy (KE) in joules (J):
- \( KE = 0.5 \times m \times v^2 \)
- \( KE = 0.5 \times 1,500\;kg \times (13.89 \;m/s)^2 \)
- \( KE = 1,141,775 \;J \)
Therefore, the car's kinetic energy with a mass of 1,500 (kg) is 1,141,775 joules.
Examples of Joules in Everyday Activities:
This helpful chart shows you how everyday activities turn into energy units like joules.
| Everyday Activity | Approximate Energy in Joules |
|---|---|
| Boiling Water | 4186 joules per liter per °C rise |
| Cycling | 900-1100 joules in 30 minutes |
| Charging a Phone | 18,000 joules in an hour (with a 5-watt charger) |
| Cooking (Baking a Pizza) | 800,000 joules in 20 minutes |
| Running | 5000-6000 joules per mile, depending on speed and body weight |
| Turning on a Lightbulb | 216,000 joules per hour (with a 60-watt bulb) |
| Heating a Home | 5,400,000 joules in an hour (with a 1500-watt heater) |
| Microwaving Food | 750,000 joules in 5 minutes |
| Boiling an Egg | 210,000 joules in 10 minutes |
| Using a Hair Dryer | 150,000 joules in 10 minutes (with a 1500-watt dryer) |
FAQs:
What is 1 Joule Equal to?
One joule is equal to the energy used or transferred when a force of one newton moves an object one meter in the direction of the force.
What does Joule Depend on?
Joule depends on two main factors: the force applied to move something and the distance it moves in the direction of that force.
What is Kinetic Energy?
Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because it is moving. The faster an object is moving, the more kinetic energy it has. Think of it like the energy of motion.
References:
Wikipedia.org: Joule, Definition, History, Multiples, Conversions