The watt-minute is a lesser-known unit of energy, yet it plays a significant role in understanding everyday energy consumption. It is equivalent to 60 joules and is simply the amount of energy produced or consumed by a power of one watt over one minute. Although not commonly used in everyday measurements, watt-minutes can be instrumental in more precise energy calculations, such as for electrical appliances or industrial equipment, providing insights between larger units like kilowatt-hours and smaller units like joules.
Intriguingly, it takes roughly 15 watt-minutes to charge a modern smartphone for one minute of talk time. This highlights how even small units can offer a clearer perspective on our energy usage, encouraging us to be more mindful of our energy habits!
Named after the English physicist James Prescott Joule, the joule is a unit of energy in the International System of Units. A single joule represents the energy transferred when a force of one newton acts over a meter. To put it in everyday terms, the energy used to lift a small apple one meter off the ground is approximately one joule. Interestingly, the joule is also the energy released in one second by a current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm, showcasing its versatility across both mechanical and electrical domains.
While joules measure energy, they can also power curiosity. For instance, the daily recommended caloric intake for an average adult translates to roughly 8,700,000 joules. This highlights the joule’s role not only in physics but also in our nutrition and daily energy consumption, offering a glimpse into the complex interplay between energy, food, and our bodies.
Watt-minutes | Joules |
---|---|
0
Wm
|
0
J
|
10
Wm
|
600
J
|
20
Wm
|
1200
J
|
30
Wm
|
1800
J
|
40
Wm
|
2400
J
|
50
Wm
|
3000
J
|
60
Wm
|
3600
J
|
70
Wm
|
4200
J
|
80
Wm
|
4800
J
|
90
Wm
|
5400
J
|
100
Wm
|
6000
J
|
110
Wm
|
6600
J
|
120
Wm
|
7200
J
|
130
Wm
|
7800
J
|
140
Wm
|
8400
J
|
150
Wm
|
9000
J
|
160
Wm
|
9600
J
|
170
Wm
|
10200
J
|
180
Wm
|
10800
J
|
190
Wm
|
11400
J
|
200
Wm
|
12000
J
|
210
Wm
|
12600
J
|
220
Wm
|
13200
J
|
230
Wm
|
13800
J
|
240
Wm
|
14400
J
|
250
Wm
|
15000
J
|
260
Wm
|
15600
J
|
270
Wm
|
16200
J
|
280
Wm
|
16800
J
|
290
Wm
|
17400
J
|
300
Wm
|
18000
J
|
310
Wm
|
18600
J
|
320
Wm
|
19200
J
|
330
Wm
|
19800
J
|
340
Wm
|
20400
J
|
350
Wm
|
21000
J
|
360
Wm
|
21600
J
|
370
Wm
|
22200
J
|
380
Wm
|
22800
J
|
390
Wm
|
23400
J
|
400
Wm
|
24000
J
|
410
Wm
|
24600
J
|
420
Wm
|
25200
J
|
430
Wm
|
25800
J
|
440
Wm
|
26400
J
|
450
Wm
|
27000
J
|
460
Wm
|
27600
J
|
470
Wm
|
28200
J
|
480
Wm
|
28800
J
|
490
Wm
|
29400
J
|
500
Wm
|
30000
J
|
510
Wm
|
30600
J
|
520
Wm
|
31200
J
|
530
Wm
|
31800
J
|
540
Wm
|
32400
J
|
550
Wm
|
33000
J
|
560
Wm
|
33600
J
|
570
Wm
|
34200
J
|
580
Wm
|
34800
J
|
590
Wm
|
35400
J
|
600
Wm
|
36000
J
|
610
Wm
|
36600
J
|
620
Wm
|
37200
J
|
630
Wm
|
37800
J
|
640
Wm
|
38400
J
|
650
Wm
|
39000
J
|
660
Wm
|
39600
J
|
670
Wm
|
40200
J
|
680
Wm
|
40800
J
|
690
Wm
|
41400
J
|
700
Wm
|
42000
J
|
710
Wm
|
42600
J
|
720
Wm
|
43200
J
|
730
Wm
|
43800
J
|
740
Wm
|
44400
J
|
750
Wm
|
45000
J
|
760
Wm
|
45600
J
|
770
Wm
|
46200
J
|
780
Wm
|
46800
J
|
790
Wm
|
47400
J
|
800
Wm
|
48000
J
|
810
Wm
|
48600
J
|
820
Wm
|
49200
J
|
830
Wm
|
49800
J
|
840
Wm
|
50400
J
|
850
Wm
|
51000
J
|
860
Wm
|
51600
J
|
870
Wm
|
52200
J
|
880
Wm
|
52800
J
|
890
Wm
|
53400
J
|
900
Wm
|
54000
J
|
910
Wm
|
54600
J
|
920
Wm
|
55200
J
|
930
Wm
|
55800
J
|
940
Wm
|
56400
J
|
950
Wm
|
57000
J
|
960
Wm
|
57600
J
|
970
Wm
|
58200
J
|
980
Wm
|
58800
J
|
990
Wm
|
59400
J
|
1000
Wm
|
60000
J
|
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