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Watt-hour

Watt-hour

This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Tom Lawrence

SI multiples of watt-hour
Multiple Name Symbol Multiple Name Symbol
100 watt-hour W·h      
101 decawatt-hour daW·h 10–1 deciwatt-hour dW·h
102 hectowatt-hour hW·h 10–2 centiwatt-hour cW·h
103 kilowatt-hour kW·h 10–3 milliwatt-hour mW·h
106 megawatt-hour MW·h 10–6 microwatt-hour µW·h
109 gigawatt-hour GW·h 10–9 nanowatt-hour nW·h
1012 terawatt-hour TW·h 10–12 picowatt-hour pW·h
1015 petawatt-hour PW·h 10–15 femtowatt-hour fW·h
1018 exawatt-hour EW·h 10–18 attowatt-hour aW·h
1021 zettawatt-hour ZW·h 10–21 zeptowatt-hour zW·h
1024 yottawatt-hour YW·h 10–24 yoctowatt-hour yW·h

Definition

The watt-hour (symbol W·h) is a unit of energy commonly used to measure electricity. One watt-hour is the amount of electrical energy equivalent to a one-watt load drawing power for one hour. For example, a 100-watt light bulb uses 100 watt-hours of energy every hour. The is commonly used in the form of the kilowatt-hour, which is 1,000 watt-hours. The watt-hour It is not an SI unit, despite being based on the watt. The SI unit of energy is the joule (J), equal to one watt-second.

In the inch-pounds unit system, a watt-hour is equivalent to 3.412 Btu.

Further reading

Citation

Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Tom Lawrence (Topic Editor) "Watt-hour". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth January 6, 2007; Last revised Date January 6, 2007; Retrieved May 21, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Watt-hour>

The Author

Cutler J. Cleveland Cutler J. Cleveland  is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth.  He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)

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