Kilojoule (kJ)
The kilojoule, symbol kJ, equals 1,000 joules and is used for measuring larger quantities of energy. It was introduced to simplify calculations in nutrition, physics, and engineering, where joules alone would result in very large numbers. Kilojoules are commonly used to express the energy content of foods, fuel consumption, and industrial energy usage. The adoption of the kilojoule has standardized energy measurements across scientific disciplines and commercial applications, offering clarity and ease of use in both everyday and professional contexts.
Watt Hour (Wh)
The watt-hour, symbolized as Wh, represents the energy consumed when one watt of power is used for one hour, equivalent to 3,600 joules. Introduced with the spread of electrical systems in the late 19th century, the watt-hour is a practical unit for measuring smaller-scale electrical consumption, such as that of batteries and small devices. It is widely used in electronics, computing, and renewable energy storage. While large-scale power use is measured in kilowatt hours, watt-hours provide fine-grained detail for portable and household applications.