How many newton meters are in one joule?

One joule is defined as the amount of energy transferred when a force of one newton is applied over a distance of one meter. This relationship can be expressed through the formula for work done:

Work (in joules) = Force (in newtons) × Distance (in meters).

When the force is one newton and the distance is one meter, the work done is exactly one joule. Thus, one joule can indeed be expressed as one newton meter, linking the units of force and distance in a coherent way.

The other choices do not accurately represent the relationship between joules and newton meters. For instance, one newton is a unit of force, and one joule being equal to two newtons or newton meters squared does not correctly describe the work-energy principle. Hence, recognizing that one joule equals one newton meter reinforces the fundamental concepts of work and energy in physics.