Convert between Gigajoule and other Energy units.
Understanding the Gigajoule as a Unit of Energy
The gigajoule (GJ) is a unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI) that represents one billion joules. It is commonly used to quantify energy in fields such as engineering, physics, and energy consumption. The joule itself is a derived unit that measures the amount of energy transferred when a force of one newton acts over a distance of one meter.
In practical terms, a gigajoule can be compared to various energy sources. For instance, it is approximately equivalent to the energy content of about 278 kilowatt-hours of electricity or the energy released by burning around 26.5 liters of gasoline. The gigajoule provides a convenient scale for discussing large quantities of energy, making it particularly useful in contexts such as renewable energy production and the energy consumption of buildings and industries.