Joule vs. Coulomb — What's the Difference?

A key unit in measuring electrical and mechanical energy.

Central in calculations involving electric fields and forces.

Relates to the work done by a force over distance and power over time.

The SI unit measuring the quantity of electrical charge.

Used across various scientific disciplines.

Directly related to ampere, with one coulomb per second equaling one ampere.

The SI unit for energy, work, or heat.

Essential for the design of electrical circuits and components.

Helps quantify energy efficiency and renewable energy production.

Helps understand how materials conduct or resist electrical flow.

The joule ( jowl, jool; symbol: J) is a derived unit of energy in the International System of Units. It is equal to the energy transferred to (or work done on) an object when a force of one newton acts on that object in the direction of the force's motion through a distance of one metre (1 newton-metre or N⋅m).

The coulomb (symbol: C) is the International System of Units (SI) unit of electric charge. Under the 2019 redefinition of the SI base units, which took effect on 20 May 2019, the coulomb is exactly 1/(1.602176634×10−19) elementary charges.

The International System unit of electrical, mechanical, and thermal energy, equal to the work done when a force of one newton acts through a distance of one meter, and also equal to the work done when a current of one ampere is passed through a resistance of one ohm for one second.

The basic unit of electric charge, equal to the quantity of charge transferred in one second by a steady current of one ampere, and equivalent to 6.2415 × 1018 elementary charges, where one elementary charge is the charge of a proton or the negative of the charge of an electron. A coulomb's value in the International System differs very slightly from that in the meter-kilogram-second-ampere system of units. See Table at measurement.

In the International System of Units, the derived unit of energy, work and heat; the work required to exert a force of one newton for a distance of one metre. Equivalent to one watt of power for a duration of one second. Symbol: J

Of or relating to the Coulomb force.

A unit of work which is equal to 107 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.

In the International System of Units, the derived unit of electric charge; the amount of electric charge carried by a current of 1 ampere flowing for 1 second. Symbol: C

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

The standard unit of quantity in electrical measurements. It is the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by the current produced by an electro-motive force of one volt acting in a circuit having a resistance of one ohm, or the quantity transferred by one ampère in one second. Formerly called weber.

English physicist who established the mechanical theory of heat and discovered the first law of thermodynamics (1818-1889)

A unit of electrical charge equal to the amount of charge transferred by a current of 1 ampere in 1 second

French physicist famous for his discoveries in the field of electricity and magnetism; formulated Coulomb's Law (1736-1806)

In battery technology, coulombs are used to measure the total electric charge a battery can hold or deliver, influencing its capacity and energy output.

Yes, joules are also used to quantify thermal energy, measuring the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance.

Coulombs apply to EVs in determining the vehicle's battery capacity and efficiency, indicating how much charge it can store and how long it can run.

Joules signify the amount of work or energy produced by renewable sources, such as the kinetic energy converted by wind turbines or the solar energy captured by photovoltaic cells.

A coulomb measures the quantity of electric charge, equivalent to the charge transported in one second by a current of one ampere.

Yes, joules can be converted to other energy units like kilowatt-hours (kWh) for electricity, calories for food energy, and British thermal units (BTU) for heating.

A practical way to visualize a joule is by thinking of it as the amount of energy used to lift a small apple one meter up against gravity.

The concept of coulombs relates directly to the flow of electricity in circuits, as it quantifies the actual charge moving through the circuit over time.

The relationship between joules and watts is direct: 1 watt equals 1 joule per second, indicating power, or the rate of energy transfer.

Joules relate to everyday energy use in measuring electrical energy consumption, food energy (calories), and the energy efficiency of appliances and vehicles.

The coulomb is fundamental in understanding electrostatic forces because it measures the quantity of charge that causes these forces between charged objects.

A joule is the SI unit of energy, measuring the amount of work done or energy transferred when a force of one newton moves an object one meter.

Coulombs are important in electronics for designing and understanding circuits, calculating the charge in electrical components, and analyzing electrostatic interactions.

Coulombs are used in calculating electric fields by determining the strength and direction of the field created by charges, essential for understanding electrostatic interactions and designing electrical devices.