What do you need to heat 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit?

To heat 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit, you need 1 BTU (British Thermal Unit). A BTU is specifically defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. This measurement is commonly used in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems to calculate energy needs in heating and cooling applications.

The reasoning behind this is grounded in the properties of water and the measurement standards established for heat energy. The BTU is a practical unit, widely accepted in the industry for its ease of use when calculating heating requirements.

In contrast, the other options refer to units of energy that apply in different contexts. A Joule is a unit of energy in the SI system, and while it can also be used to measure heat, it is not specifically defined for heating water by a degree Fahrenheit. A Watt, which is a measure of power, defines the rate of energy transfer and would not accurately express the amount of energy needed to heat water. Lastly, a calorie is equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius, which is a different measurement that does not directly apply to the heating of