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Energy

Just how much energy is 1 gigajoule?

Fuel & batteries

1 GJ

Scale

ENERGY STORED OR TRANSFERRED

1 gigajoule

The quantity is exact as entered.

1 GJEnergy
0
Lightning energy model

A lightning energy model represents the total energy released during a single lightning discharge.

1 GJEnergy
0
Bar length represents energy. Equal energy does not imply the same temperature, power or usefulness.

A little perspective

1 gigajoule is approximately equal to the energy of a lightning energy model.

Measurements, assumptions & sources +

1 gigajoule

Energy: 1 GJ; definition.

The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.

NIST — SI conversion factors

Lightning energy model

Energy: 1 GJ; defined energy model.

A deliberately rough 1 GJ discharge model. Real flashes vary by orders of magnitude.

Defined examples — our methodology

The marked energy is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

Measurement details

Why these numbers?

Compare 1 gigajoule with the energy of a lightning energy model. The notes below explain how each value was chosen.

1 gigajoule

1 GJ

Energy · definition

The quantity is exact as entered. Comparisons use the clearly stated specimen, model or nominal measurement.

Lightning energy model

1 GJ

Energy · defined energy model

A deliberately rough 1 GJ discharge model. Real flashes vary by orders of magnitude.

Comparing
Energy ↔ Energy
Relative size
1 gigajoule is approximately equal to the energy of a lightning energy model.

How to read the visual

The diagram uses the recorded measurements. Details outside the marked spans do not set the scale.

  • The energy of a lightning energy model: This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.

Energy is an amount; power describes the rate of energy transfer or use.

1 × 10⁹ Jjoules
277.78 kWhkilowatt-hours
239,010 kcalkilocalories

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