How is heat measured?

Heat is measured in joules, which is the standard unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI). The joule quantifies energy transfer, and since heat is a form of energy, it is appropriately measured in this unit. Joules provide a clear and consistent way to express the amount of heat energy absorbed or released by a system.

Calories are another unit of measurement for heat, specifically used to indicate the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. While this is a valid measure of heat, the question specifically asks for how heat is measured in a more general and standardized system, where joules are the predominant unit.

Volts measure electric potential and watts measure power, which is the rate of energy transfer. While both are important in physics and engineering, they do not pertain directly to the measurement of heat. Therefore, joules are the most appropriate and widely accepted unit for quantifying heat energy.