Physics Ontology

One map of physics, three ways in. Drill down on any quantity to see its units, the equations it lives in, and how its values span the universe.

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EE
Mechanics

Energy

Capacity to do work; conserved across all interactions.

SI unit

joule (J)

Dimension: [ML2T2][\,M L^2 T^{-2}\,]

Other units

  • joule (J)
  • electronvolt (eV)×1.60e-19
  • kilowatt-hour (kWh)×3.60e+6

Order of magnitude

How values of energy span the physical world (in J, log scale).

Single photon (visible)
3.00 × 10-19 J
Beating heart (per beat)
100 J
Lightning bolt
109 J
Supernova
1044 J
Lower limit10-21 JUpper limit1047 J

Appears in 9 equations

Kinetic Energy
Ek=12mv2E_k = \tfrac{1}{2} m v^2
First Law of Thermodynamics
ΔU=QW\Delta U = Q - W
Planck–Einstein Relation
E=hfE = h f
Photoelectric Effect
Ek=hfϕE_k = h f - \phi
Mass–Energy Equivalence
E=mc2E = m c^2
Elastic Strain Energy
ΔEel=12FΔx\Delta E_{el} = \tfrac{1}{2} F \Delta x
Capacitor Energy Stored
W=12CV2W = \tfrac{1}{2} C V^2
Specific Heat Capacity
ΔE=mcΔθ\Delta E = mc\,\Delta\theta
Latent Heat
ΔE=LΔm\Delta E = L\Delta m

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