Joule to Therm 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 therm (thm) is a unit of energy equal to 100,000 BTUs or approximately 105.5 megajoules. It's commonly used for measuring natural gas consumption and energy content in the United States gas industry.

The therm was introduced in the early 20th century by the gas industry in the United States as a convenient unit for measuring and billing natural gas consumption. It provided a practical scale for residential and commercial gas usage where BTUs would result in large numbers.

Therms are primarily used in the United States for natural gas billing, gas appliance ratings, and energy content specifications for natural gas. They're found on residential and commercial gas bills, used in gas utility planning, and for measuring heating energy consumption.