Contents
James Prescott Joule
Demonstrating the relationship between heat and mechanical work.
Mechanical equivalent of heat · Joule’s law
- Born
- 24 December 1818
- Birthplace
- Salford
- Died
- 11 October 1889
More people
James Prescott Joule
English experimental physicist whose measurements helped establish energy conservation. The SI unit of energy is named for him.
Early life
Salford upbringing
The son of a brewer, he received private tuition from John Dalton and developed an early interest in electricity and machinery.
Career
- 1841
Electrical heating
Formulated the relationship between current, resistance and heat.
- 1843
Energy conversion
Published experiments connecting mechanical work with heat.
- Later research
Kelvin collaboration
Worked with William Thomson on thermodynamic questions.
Contributions
Mechanical equivalent of heat
Measured how work could produce a corresponding quantity of heat.
Joule’s law
Described heating in a conductor carrying current.
Beyond work
Family and business
Managed the family brewery while pursuing research. He married Amelia Grimes in 1847 and they had three children.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical or achievement source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Henry Roscoe. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.