This list compares various energies in joules (J), organized by order of magnitude.
Below 1 J + List of orders of magnitude for energy Factor (joules) SI prefix Value Item10−35Optical dipole potential measured in a tune-out experiment with ultracold metastable helium.10−34 Energy of a photon with a frequency of 1 hertz.,Energy of a photon: E= h × v.= 6.626e-34 × 1 = 6.626e-34 J. equivalent to 4.14×10−15 eV or, alternatively stated, One two-hundred-fifty-trillionth of one eV.) Average kinetic energy of translational motion of a molecule at the lowest temperature reached (38 picokelvinCalculated: KE = (3/2) × Boltzmann constant × Temperature )10−30 quecto- (qJ) 10−28 6.6×10−28J Energy of a typical AM radio photon (1 MHz) (4×10−9 eV)Calculated: E = hν = 6.626J-s × 1 Hz = 6.6J. In eV: 6.6J / 1.6J/eV = 4.1eV.10−27 ronto- (rJ) 10−24 yocto- (yJ) 1.6×10−24J Energy of a typical microwave oven photon (2.45 GHz) (1×10−5eV)Calculated: E = hν = 6.626J-s × 2.45Hz = 1.62J. In eV: 1.62J / 1.6J/eV = 1.0eV.10−23 2×10−23J Average kinetic energy of translational motion of a molecule in the Boomerang Nebula, the coldest place known outside of a laboratory, at a temperature of 1 kelvinCalculated: KE ≈ (3/2) × T × 1.38 = (3/2) × 1 × 1.38 ≈ 2.07J 10−22 2×10−22 – 3×10−19J Energy of infrared light photons10−21 zepto- (zJ)1.7×10−21J 1kJ/mol, converted to energy per moleculeCalculated: 1J / 6.022 entities per mole = 1.7J per entity2.1×10−21J Thermal energy in each degree of freedom of a molecule at 25 °C (kT/2) (0.01 eV)Calculated: 1.381J/K × 298.15 K / 2 = 2.1J2.856×10−21J By Landauer's principle, the minimum amount of energy required at 25 °C to change one bit of information3–7×10−21J Energy of a van der Waals interaction between atoms (0.02–0.04eV)Calculated: 2 to 4kJ/mol = 2J / 6.022 molecules/mol = 3.3J. In eV: 3.3J / 1.6J/eV = 0.02 eV. 4J / 6.022 molecules/mol = 6.7J. In eV: 6.7J / 1.6J/eV = 0.04 eV.4.1×10−21J The "kT" constant at 25 °C, a common rough approximation for the total thermal energy of each molecule in a system (0.03 eV)7–22×10−21J Energy of a hydrogen bond (0.04 to 0.13 eV)Calculated: 4 to 13kJ/mol. 4kJ/mol = 4J / 6.022 molecules/mol = 6.7J. In eV: 6.7J / 1.6 eV/J = 0.042 eV. 13kJ/mol = 13J / 6.022 molecules/mol = 2.2J. In eV: 13J / 6.022 molecules/mol / 1.6 eV/J = 0.13 eV. 10−20 4.5×10−20J Upper bound of the mass–energy of a neutrino in particle physics (0.28eV)Calculated: 0.28 eV × 1.6J/eV = 4.5J10−19 1 electronvolt (eV) by definition. This value is exact as a result of the 2019 revision of SI units.3–5×10−19J Energy range of photons in visible light (≈1.6–3.1eV)Calculated: E = hc/λ. E = 6.6 kg-m/s × 3 m/s / (780 m) = 2.5J. E_390 _nm = 6.6 kg-m/s × 3 m/s / (390 m) = 5.1J3–14×10−19J Energy of a covalent bond (2–9eV)Calculated: 50 kcal/mol × 4.184J/calorie / 6.0e23 molecules/mol = 3.47J. (3.47J / 1.60 eV/J = 2.2 eV.) and 200 kcal/mol × 4.184J/calorie / 6.0e23 molecules/mol = 1.389J. (7.64J / 1.60 eV/J = 8.68 eV.) 5×10−19 – 2×10−17J Energy of ultraviolet light photons10−18atto- (aJ)1.78×10−18JBond dissociation energy for the carbon monoxide (CO) triple bond, alternatively stated: 1072 kJ/mol; 11.11 eV per molecule. This is the strongest chemical bond known. 2.18×10−18J Ground state ionization energy of hydrogen (13.6eV) 10−17 2×10−17 – 2×10−14J Energy range of X-ray photons 10−16 10−15 femto- (fJ) 3 × 10−15J Average kinetic energy of one human red blood cell.Calculated: 1/2 × 27 g × (3.5 miles per hour) = 3J10−14 1×10−14J Sound energy (vibration) transmitted to the eardrums by listening to a whisper for one second.. "The eardrum is a [...] membran[e] with an area of 65 mm2."Calculated: two eardrums ≈ 1 cm2. 1 W/m2 × 1 m2 × 1 s = 1J > 2×10−14J Energy of gamma ray photons2.7×10−14J Upper bound of the mass–energy of a muon neutrinoCalculated: 170 eV × 1.6J/eV = 2.7J8.2×10−14J Rest mass–energy of an electron (0.511 MeV)10−13 1.6×10−13J 1 megaelectronvolt (MeV) 2.3×10−13J Energy released by a single event of two protons fusing into deuterium (1.44 MeV)10−12 pico- (pJ) 2.3×10−12J Kinetic energy of neutrons produced by DT fusion, used to trigger fission (14.1 MeV)10−111.3646×10−11J Energy consumed for one floating-point operation by KAIROS, the most energy-efficient supercomputer as of November 20253.4×10−11J Average total energy released in the nuclear fission of one uranium-235 atom (215 MeV)10−101.492×10−10JMass-energy equivalent of 1 Da (931.5 MeV)1.503×10−10J Rest mass–energy of a proton (938.3 MeV)1.505×10−10J Rest mass–energy of a neutron (939.6 MeV)1.6×10−10J 1 gigaelectronvolt (GeV)3×10−10J Rest mass–energy of a deuteron6×10−10J Rest mass–energy of an alpha particle7×10−10J Energy required to raise a grain of sand by 0.1 mm (the thickness of a piece of paper).Calculated: 7 g × 9.8 m/s2 × 1 m10−9 nano- (nJ) 1.6×10−9J 10 GeV 8×10−9J Initial operating energy per beam of the CERN Large Electron Positron Collider in 1989 (50 GeV)Calculated: 50 eV × 1.6J/eV = 8J10−8 1.3×10−8J Mass–energy of a W boson (80.4 GeV) 1.5×10−8J Mass–energy of a Z boson (91.2 GeV) 1.6×10−8J 100 GeV 2×10−8J Mass–energy of the Higgs Boson (125.1 GeV) 6.4×10−8J Operating energy per proton of the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator in 1976Calculated: 400 eV × 1.6J/eV = 6.4J10−7 1×10−7J ≡ 1 erg 1.6×10−7J 1 TeV (teraelectronvolt), about the kinetic energy of a flying mosquito10−6 micro- (μJ) 1.04×10−6J Energy per proton in the CERN Large Hadron Collider in 2015 (6.5 TeV)Calculated: 6.5 eV per beam × 1.6J/eV = 1.04J 10−5 10−4 1.0×10−4J Energy released by a typical radioluminescent wristwatch in 1 hour (1 μCi × 4.871 MeV × 1 hr) 10−3 milli- (mJ) 3.0×10−3J Energy released by a P100 atomic battery in 1 hour (2.4 V × 350 nA × 1 hr) 10−2 centi- (cJ) 4.0×10−2J Use of a typical LED for 1 second (2.0 V × 20 mA × 1 s)10−1 deci- (dJ) 1.1×10−1J Energy of an American half-dollar falling 1 metreCalculated: m×g×h = 11.34 kg × 9.8 m/s × 1 m = 1.1J
1 to 105 J + List of orders of magnitude for energy Factor (joules) SI prefix Value Item100 J 1J ≡ 1 N·m (newton–metre) 1J ≡ 1 W·s (watt-second) 1J Kinetic energy produced as an extra small apple (~100 grams) falls 1 meter against Earth's gravityCalculated: m×g×h = 1 kg × 9.8 m/s × 1 m = 1J 1J Energy required to heat 1 gram of dry, cool air by 1 degree Celsius 1.4J ≈ 1 ft·lbf (foot-pound force) 4.184J ≡ 1 thermochemical calorie (small calorie) 4.1868J ≡ 1 International (Steam) Table calorie 8J Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin theoretical upper limit for the energy of a cosmic ray coming from a distant sourceCalculated: 5 eV × 1.6J/ev = 8J101 deca- (daJ) 10J Flash energy of a typical pocket camera electronic flash capacitor at 50J The most energetic cosmic ray ever detected.102hecto- (hJ)1.25×102JKinetic energy of a regulation (standard) baseball () thrown at average MLB pitch speed ().1.5×102 - 3.6×102J Energy delivered by a biphasic external electric shock (defibrillation), usually during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest.3×102J Energy of a lethal dose of X-rays3×102J Kinetic energy of an average person jumping as high as they canKinetic energy at start of jump = potential energy at high point of jump. Using a mass of 70 kg and a high point of 40 cm => energy = m×g×h = 70 kg × 9.8 m/s × 40 m = 274J3.3×102J Energy to melt 1 g of ice3.6×102J Kinetic energy of 800-gram standard men's javelin thrown at 30 m/s by elite javelin throwersCalculated: 1/2 × 0.8 kg × (30 m/s) = 360J5×102 – 2×103J Energy output of a typical photography studio strobe light in a single flash6×102J Use of a 10-watt flashlight for 1 minute7.5×102J A power of 1 horsepower applied for 1 second7.8×102J Kinetic energy of 7.26 kg standard men's shot thrown at 14.7 m/s by the world record holder Randy BarnesCalculated: 1/2 × 7.26 kg × (14.7 m/s) = 784J8.01×102JAmount of work needed to lift a man with an average weight (81.7 kg) one meter above Earth (or any planet with Earth gravity)103 kilo- (kJ)1.1×103J ≈ 1 British thermal unit (BTU), depending on the temperature1.4×103J Total solar radiation received from the Sun by 1 square meter at the altitude of Earth's orbit per second (solar constant)2.3×103J Energy to vaporize 1 g of water into steam3×103J Lorentz force can crusher pinchpowerlabs.org – The PowerLabs Solid State Can Crusher!, 20023.4×103J Kinetic energy of world-record men's hammer throw (7.26 kg thrown at 30.7 m/s in 1986)Calculated: 1/2 × 7.26 kg × (30.7 m/s) = 3420J3.6×103J ≡ 1 W·h (watt-hour)4.2×103J Energy released by explosion of 1 gram of TNT4.2J/ton of TNT-equivalent × (1 ton/1 grams) = 4.2J/gram of TNT-equivalent4.2×103J ≈ 1 food Calorie (large calorie)~7×103J Muzzle energy of an elephant gun, e.g. firing a .458 Winchester Magnum8.5×103JKinetic energy of a regulation baseball thrown at the speed of sound (343m/s = 767mph = 1,235km/h. Air, 20 °C).9×103J Energy in an alkaline AA battery104 1.7×104J Energy released by the metabolism of 1 gram of carbohydrates or protein 3.8×104J Energy released by the metabolism of 1 gram of fat 4–5×104J Energy released by the combustion of 1 gram of gasoline 5×104J Kinetic energy of 1 gram of matter moving at 10 km/sCalculated: E = 1/2 m×v = 1/2 × (1 kg) × (1 m/s) = 5J.105 Kinetic energy of an automobile at highway speeds (1 to 5 tons at or )Calculated: Using car weights of 1 to 5 tons. E = 1/2 m×v = 1/2 × (1 kg) × (55 mph × 1600 m/mi / 3600 s/hr) = 3.0J. E = 1/2 × (5 kg) × (55 mph × 1600 m/mi / 3600 s/hr) = 15J.
106 to 1011 J