Joule's law (due to James Prescott Joule) expresses the amount of heat generated by an electrical resistor, and is expressed by the relation

<math>Q \propto I^2 R t<math>

by current <math>I<math> flowing through a resistor with resistance <math>R<math> for a time <math>t<math>, and <math>Q<math> is the heat generated

or

<math>Q = k I^2 R t<math>

where <math>k<math> is the constant of proportionality, dependent on the units used to express <math>I<math>, <math>R<math> and <math>t<math>. If amperes, ohms, and seconds are used, and the result expressed in joules, it is simply 1.

<math>units = J / A^2 \Omega s<math>

See also: Peltier-Seebeck effect

nl:Wet van Joule