The watt-second is a unit of energy that represents the amount of work done when a power of one watt is sustained for one second. This unit is a direct way to visualize energy transfer in everyday activities. Interestingly, while it may sound abstract, this unit can be directly applied to understand how quick appliances like LED lights or small electronic devices consume energy. For example, a modern LED bulb that consumes 10 watts of power will use 10 watt-seconds of energy every second it is on.
While commonly overshadowed by the more familiar joule, the watt-second is essentially equivalent to one joule. Its simplicity in denoting power over time makes it a cornerstone concept in physics and engineering, where it is applied to calculate specific energy transfers and efficiency in varied systems. Exploring this unit helps bridge the gap between theoretical energy calculations and practical everyday energy use.
The gigajoule (GJ) is a unit of energy equivalent to one billion joules. It offers a convenient metric for measuring substantial energy quantities and is frequently used in contexts like natural gas and electrical energy. For instance, one gigajoule can power an average household’s energy needs for about three days, depending on energy consumption habits. Interestingly, it’s also roughly equivalent to the energy contained in 26.8 gallons of gasoline, highlighting its significance in both domestic and industrial contexts.
Beyond its everyday applications, the gigajoule also plays a critical role in scientific fields. In the realm of seismology, for example, a moderate earthquake releases energy comparable to a few gigajoules, illustrating the vast power of natural phenomena. This demonstrates how understanding gigajoules can offer insights into both human technology and the forces of nature.
Watt-seconds | Gigajoules |
---|---|
0
Ws
|
0
GJ
|
100
Ws
|
1e-7
GJ
|
200
Ws
|
2e-7
GJ
|
300
Ws
|
3e-7
GJ
|
400
Ws
|
4e-7
GJ
|
500
Ws
|
5e-7
GJ
|
600
Ws
|
6e-7
GJ
|
700
Ws
|
7e-7
GJ
|
800
Ws
|
8e-7
GJ
|
900
Ws
|
9e-7
GJ
|
1000
Ws
|
0.000001
GJ
|
1100
Ws
|
0.0000011
GJ
|
1200
Ws
|
0.0000012
GJ
|
1300
Ws
|
0.0000013
GJ
|
1400
Ws
|
0.0000014
GJ
|
1500
Ws
|
0.0000015
GJ
|
1600
Ws
|
0.0000016
GJ
|
1700
Ws
|
0.0000017
GJ
|
1800
Ws
|
0.0000018
GJ
|
1900
Ws
|
0.0000019
GJ
|
2000
Ws
|
0.000002
GJ
|
2100
Ws
|
0.0000021
GJ
|
2200
Ws
|
0.0000022
GJ
|
2300
Ws
|
0.0000023
GJ
|
2400
Ws
|
0.0000024
GJ
|
2500
Ws
|
0.0000025
GJ
|
2600
Ws
|
0.0000026
GJ
|
2700
Ws
|
0.0000027
GJ
|
2800
Ws
|
0.0000028
GJ
|
2900
Ws
|
0.0000029
GJ
|
3000
Ws
|
0.000003
GJ
|
3100
Ws
|
0.0000031
GJ
|
3200
Ws
|
0.0000032
GJ
|
3300
Ws
|
0.0000033
GJ
|
3400
Ws
|
0.0000034
GJ
|
3500
Ws
|
0.0000035
GJ
|
3600
Ws
|
0.0000036
GJ
|
3700
Ws
|
0.0000037
GJ
|
3800
Ws
|
0.0000038
GJ
|
3900
Ws
|
0.0000039
GJ
|
4000
Ws
|
0.000004
GJ
|
4100
Ws
|
0.0000041
GJ
|
4200
Ws
|
0.0000042
GJ
|
4300
Ws
|
0.0000043
GJ
|
4400
Ws
|
0.0000044
GJ
|
4500
Ws
|
0.0000045
GJ
|
4600
Ws
|
0.0000046
GJ
|
4700
Ws
|
0.0000047
GJ
|
4800
Ws
|
0.0000048
GJ
|
4900
Ws
|
0.0000049
GJ
|
5000
Ws
|
0.000005
GJ
|
5100
Ws
|
0.0000051
GJ
|
5200
Ws
|
0.0000052
GJ
|
5300
Ws
|
0.0000053
GJ
|
5400
Ws
|
0.0000054
GJ
|
5500
Ws
|
0.0000055
GJ
|
5600
Ws
|
0.0000056
GJ
|
5700
Ws
|
0.0000057
GJ
|
5800
Ws
|
0.0000058
GJ
|
5900
Ws
|
0.0000059
GJ
|
6000
Ws
|
0.000006
GJ
|
6100
Ws
|
0.0000061
GJ
|
6200
Ws
|
0.0000062
GJ
|
6300
Ws
|
0.0000063
GJ
|
6400
Ws
|
0.0000064
GJ
|
6500
Ws
|
0.0000065
GJ
|
6600
Ws
|
0.0000066
GJ
|
6700
Ws
|
0.0000067
GJ
|
6800
Ws
|
0.0000068
GJ
|
6900
Ws
|
0.0000069
GJ
|
7000
Ws
|
0.000007
GJ
|
7100
Ws
|
0.0000071
GJ
|
7200
Ws
|
0.0000072
GJ
|
7300
Ws
|
0.0000073
GJ
|
7400
Ws
|
0.0000074
GJ
|
7500
Ws
|
0.0000075
GJ
|
7600
Ws
|
0.0000076
GJ
|
7700
Ws
|
0.0000077
GJ
|
7800
Ws
|
0.0000078
GJ
|
7900
Ws
|
0.0000079
GJ
|
8000
Ws
|
0.000008
GJ
|
8100
Ws
|
0.0000081
GJ
|
8200
Ws
|
0.0000082
GJ
|
8300
Ws
|
0.0000083
GJ
|
8400
Ws
|
0.0000084
GJ
|
8500
Ws
|
0.0000085
GJ
|
8600
Ws
|
0.0000086
GJ
|
8700
Ws
|
0.0000087
GJ
|
8800
Ws
|
0.0000088
GJ
|
8900
Ws
|
0.0000089
GJ
|
9000
Ws
|
0.000009
GJ
|
9100
Ws
|
0.0000091
GJ
|
9200
Ws
|
0.0000092
GJ
|
9300
Ws
|
0.0000093
GJ
|
9400
Ws
|
0.0000094
GJ
|
9500
Ws
|
0.0000095
GJ
|
9600
Ws
|
0.0000096
GJ
|
9700
Ws
|
0.0000097
GJ
|
9800
Ws
|
0.0000098
GJ
|
9900
Ws
|
0.0000099
GJ
|
10000
Ws
|
0.00001
GJ
|
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