The joule (symbol: J) is the unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after the English physicist James Prescott Joule, who made important contributions to the study of energy and thermodynamics. One joule is defined as the amount of energy transferred or expended when a force of one newton acts on a point over a distance of one meter in the direction of the force. Mathematically, it is expressed as:

Joule (J) = Newton (N) x Meter

In equations, you may see it written as:

E=F×d

where:

E is energy in joules,
F is force in newtons,
d is distance in meters.

The joule is a fundamental unit of energy and is used to quantify various forms of energy, including mechanical, electrical, and thermal energy. For example:

In mechanics, it represents the energy required to move an object against a force.
In electricity, it measures the energy transferred by a one-watt electrical device in one second.
In thermodynamics, it quantifies the internal energy of a system.

Common multiples and submultiples of the joule include the kilojoule (kJ), which is equal to 1,000 joules, and the megajoule (MJ), which is equal to 1,000,000 joules. The joule is a versatile unit that is widely used in physics, engineering, and various scientific disciplines to express energy in different contexts.