Final answer:
The second is the only fundamental unit listed, making it the correct answer. It is used as a base for defining time, whereas joules, newtons, and liters are all derived units.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Which of the following is not a derived unit? A) Joules B) Newton C) liter D) second' is asking which of the options listed is a fundamental unit rather than a derived one. Derived units are combinations of the fundamental units, which include the meter (m) for length, the kilogram (kg) for mass, the second (s) for time, and others in the metric system. Joules (J) and Newtons (N) are both derived units. A joule is a unit of work or energy equivalent to a newton-meter (N·m), or kg·m²/s². A newton is a unit of force equal to kg·m/s². A liter is a unit of volume not originally based on the SI, but it can be derived from cubic meters (m³). The second is a fundamental unit of time in the SI system, and it is currently defined by the duration of 9,192,631,770 vibration periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between two levels of the cesium-133 atom.
Given this information, the correct answer is D) second, as it is the only option that is a fundamental unit and not a derived unit.