Joule to Kilowatt Hour Converter

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.

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy equal to the energy consumed by a device with a power rating of one kilowatt operating for one hour. It equals 3.6 megajoules and is the standard unit for measuring electrical energy consumption.

The kilowatt-hour was developed with the commercialization of electricity in the late 19th century. It provided a practical way for electric utilities to measure and bill for electrical energy consumption, becoming the standard unit for electrical energy trading worldwide.

Kilowatt-hours are universally used for measuring and billing electrical energy consumption in homes, businesses, and industries. They're found on every electricity bill, used in energy efficiency ratings for appliances, and are standard in renewable energy system specifications and grid energy trading.