A joule (symbol J) was a unit of energy. Comparable units included electronvolt and calorie.
Comparative list of energies[]
- Microjoule = 0.000,001 joules
- microjoules: In 2368, William T. Riker told Soren to rechannel every single microjoule to the transporter systems on the Magellan to escape disaster. (TNG: "The Outcast")
- Millijoule = 0.001 joules
- 5 millijoules: Tom Paris used a cardio-stimulator to cajole the heart of Brin's son to life. Although the initial charge of 3 millijoules was unsuccessful, the second charge set at 5 millijoules was successful. (VOY: "Friendship One")
- 20 millijoules: The starting dose of energy with a cortical stimulator was 20 millijoules. (VOY: "Fury")
- 30 millijoules: A simulation of potential surgery for Seven of Nine was ended by The Doctor when he was forced to raise a neurostatic pulse from 20 millijoules to 30 millijoules. (VOY: "Imperfection")
- 50-70 millijoules: In 2376, a cortical simulator using an energy pulse at 50 and 70 millijoules was used successfully to save B'Elanna Torres after she suffered complications from oxygen deprivation. (VOY: "Barge of the Dead")
- 75-90 millijoules: In 2375, a cortical stimulator using an energy output of 75 and 90 millijoules was unable to save the Silver Blood duplicate of B'Elanna Torres. (VOY: "Course: Oblivion")
- 300-350 millijoules: Despite using 300 and 350 millijoules on Hoshi Sato, Phlox was unable to resuscitate her following infection from a silicon-based virus. (ENT: "Observer Effect")
- Joule
- 0.2 joules (= 200 millijoules): Phlox increased a cardio-stimulator's output by 0.2 joules in order to help save Major Hayes' life. (ENT: "Countdown")
- 25 joules: Using an equal energy output of 25 joules, Jadzia Dax and Worf were able to link their tricorders on a mission during the Dominion War. (DS9: "Change of Heart")
- Kilojoule = 1 thousand joules
- 4.3 kilojoules: The weak and primitive deflector shield protecting the Lysian Central Command had an output of only 4.3 kilojoules and could have easily been taken out with a single photon torpedo. (TNG: "Conundrum")
- Megajoule = 1 million joules
- 1.05 megajoules: a standard Federation phaser rifle could output 1.05 megajoules per second with a beam. (TNG: "The Mind's Eye")
- 2.1 megajoules: The ship-mounted disruptor weapon capacity of a 24th century Lysian destroyer was rated at 2.1 megajoules. (TNG: "Conundrum")
- 4.7 megajoules: A hand-held Cardassian phase-disruptor rifle had a 4.7 megajoule power capacity, three-millisecond recharge, and two beam settings. (DS9: "Return to Grace")
- 5 megajoules: Starfleet phase-pistols of the 22nd century were generally kept under 5 megajoules of power output. (ENT: "Regeneration")
- 10 megajoules: Malcolm Reed discovered that increasing the output of phase-pistols to 10 megajoules added enough energy to destroy Borg shielding. (ENT: "Regeneration")
- 10 megajoules: Using an annular confinement beam during investigation of null space, the Magellan used up 10 megajoules, taking their energy reserves from 34% to 9%. (TNG: "The Outcast")
This implies the full energy reserves of the Magellan were about 40 megajoules.
- 20 megajoules: In an attempt to activate a scanner discovered in the Gamma Quadrant, Data suggested transferring 20 megajoules of energy from the dilithium chamber into the plasma inputs of the device. (TNG: "Birthright, Part I")
- 37 megajoules: When transporting a test cylinder to a Romulan science vessel through a micro-wormhole, B'Elanna Torres ordered for power to the phase transition coils to be increased to 37 megajoules. (VOY: "Eye of the Needle")
- 40-50 megajoules: When converting energy to power a derelict Xindi-Insectoid assault shuttle, Charles Tucker III originally used 40 megajoules of power from Enterprise NX-01, before raising it to 50 megajoules. Due to problems with the matrix converter, they were unable to continue powering the shuttle directly. (ENT: "Hatchery")
- 600 megajoules: The unidentified aliens placed a device on board Enterprise which ran with a tremendous amount of energy, over 600 megajoules. (ENT: "Silent Enemy")
- 800 megajoules: The Nechisti shrine had 800 megajoules of biogenic energy running through it. (VOY: "Sacred Ground")
- Gigajoule = 1 billion joules
- 4.6 gigajoules: The Breen CRM 114 was capable of cutting through shields with an output of up to 4.6 gigajoules. (DS9: "Business as Usual")
- 80 gigajoules: 22nd century Starfleet phase cannons had multiphasic emitters and a maximum yield of 80 gigajoules. (ENT: "Cogenitor")
- 500 gigajoules: These phase cannons were rated for a maximum power output of 500 gigajoules. (ENT: "Silent Enemy")
- Terajoule = 1 trillion joules
- 30 million terajoules (=30 exajoules): The graviton ellipse contained 30 million terajoules of subspace energy. (VOY: "One Small Step")
- 30 million-90 million terajoules (=30-90 exajoules): A neutronic gradient encounter by the USS Voyager rose from 30 million to 90 million terajoules of energy before hitting the vessel and causing widespread system failures. (VOY: "Fair Haven")
These numbers would be more accurately represented as 30-90 exajoules.
- Exajoule = 1 quintillion joules
- 100 exajoules: The ISS Charon's attack on Harlak generated a power surge in the 100 exajoule range that was detected by the ISS Shenzhou in the planet's orbit. (DIS: "The Wolf Inside")
In the real world, a Joule is a unit of stored energy or work done corresponding to one Watt emitted or released for one Second. This is inconsistent with its portrayal in Star Trek, where the terms Watt and Joule were used interchangeably in most cases, with Joules only very rarely being used as a unit of stored energy.