Though J = N . m, it is a useful practice to reserve joule for energy and work and to use newton metre as a unit for torque. This helps to distinct between two completely different quantities.
It is in accordance with the official SI brochure (The International System of Units (SI); 8th edition) which says: "In practice, with certain quantities, preference is given to the use of certain special unit names, or combination of unit names, to facilitate the distinction between different quantities having the same dimension."
Another Answer
The newton metre, used to measure torque, is not related to the joule.
Torque and work are two different things.
Torque is a turning moment: the product of a radius and a force acting perpendicular to that force, and the resulting unit is the newton metre.
Work, on the other hand. is the product of a forceand the distance moved in the same direction of that force, resulting in the newton metre. But, in the case of force, SI gives a special name to this compound unit, the joule.
The newton metre is a unit of torque (or moment).
Joule , the energy unit is the unit for Torque. Torque is vector energy.AnswerThe SI unit for torque is the newton metre(N.m). This should not be confused with the joule (which is a special name for a newton metre), the SI unit for work.With torque, the force (in newtons) acts at right angles to a radius (in metres) to produce a turning moment. With work, the force (in newtons) acts in the same direction as distance travelled (in metres).To calculate the work done by a given torque, it's necessary to multiply the force by the circumference through which the force acts.
Joule , the energy unit is the unit for Torque. Torque is vector energy.AnswerThe SI unit for torque is the newton metre(N.m). This should not be confused with the joule (which is a special name for a newton metre), the SI unit for work.With torque, the force (in newtons) acts at right angles to a radius (in metres) to produce a turning moment. With work, the force (in newtons) acts in the same direction as distance travelled (in metres).To calculate the work done by a given torque, it's necessary to multiply the force by the circumference through which the force acts.
In SI, the 'volt' is a special name given to a joule per coulomb.
Joules versus wattsThe joule and the watt are closely related units. The joule is a unit of work and energy. It is equal to a newton-meter (N-m). Note that the unit of torque is also the newton-meter, but scientists don't use the word joule when they are talking about torque.The watt is a unit of power and is defined as a joule per second, so you can see that power is work per unit time.One joule is equal to one watt-second.
The joule is an SI unit!
The unit of energy, "Joule", was named in his honor.The unit of energy, "Joule", was named in his honor.The unit of energy, "Joule", was named in his honor.The unit of energy, "Joule", was named in his honor.
... is called power. The SI unit for energy is the joule; the SI unit for power is joule/second = watt.
The joule is an SI unit!
joules
The same as the SI unit for energy - the joule.The same as the SI unit for energy - the joule.The same as the SI unit for energy - the joule.The same as the SI unit for energy - the joule.
The SI unit for both work and energy is the joule.