Convert between Megajoule and other Energy units.
Megajoule as a Unit of Energy
A megajoule (MJ) is a unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI), representing one million joules. The joule, named after the physicist James Prescott Joule, is defined as the amount of energy transferred when a force of one newton is applied over a distance of one meter. Therefore, the megajoule is a significant quantity used to express large amounts of energy, commonly employed in various fields such as physics, engineering, nutrition, and electricity generation.
In practical applications, the megajoule provides a clear context for energy consumption and production. For instance, one megajoule is approximately equivalent to the energy required to heat about 240 liters of water by one degree Celsius. It is also used in the context of food energy, where one megajoule is about 239 kilocalories. This versatility makes the megajoule a critical unit for understanding energy in both scientific and everyday contexts.