What does a watt measure?

A watt is a unit of power, which measures the rate at which energy is used or produced. Power is defined as the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit of time. Specifically, one watt is equivalent to one joule per second. This makes watts a crucial unit in various applications, including electrical circuits, where it indicates how much electrical energy is being consumed or generated over a set period. Understanding watts is essential when discussing electrical devices, as it helps in evaluating their efficiency and operational characteristics. The other options represent different physical quantities: force, work, and energy are related but distinct concepts that do not directly describe the rate of energy transfer, which is what power, measured in watts, does.