Erg to Joule Converter

An erg is a unit of energy in the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system, equal to 10⁻⁷ joules. It represents the work done by a force of one dyne acting through a distance of one centimeter.

The erg was developed as part of the CGS unit system in the late 19th century. It was widely used in physics and engineering before the adoption of SI units, particularly in mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetic calculations where CGS units were preferred.

Ergs are rarely used in modern applications, appearing mainly in historical scientific literature and some specialized physics contexts. They've been largely replaced by joules in all practical applications, though they may still appear in some older scientific references and specialized calculations.

A joule (J) is the SI base unit of energy, defined as the energy expended when applying a force of one newton through a distance of one meter. It represents the fundamental measure of energy, work, and heat in the International System of Units.

The joule was named after English physicist James Prescott Joule in 1889, who studied the relationship between heat and mechanical work. It was adopted as the SI unit of energy in 1960, replacing various other energy units and providing a unified measure for all forms of energy.

Joules are universally used in scientific calculations, physics education, engineering applications, and energy measurements. They're fundamental to all energy calculations in science and engineering, from atomic-scale processes to mechanical systems, and are the basis for all other energy units.