Final answer:
1 BTU is equivalent to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1°F, which is about 1,055 joules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is C) The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1°F. A BTU, which stands for British thermal unit, is a unit of energy used primarily in the United States within the Imperial system. It is defined as the energy required to change the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In terms of the metric system, this is approximately equivalent to 1,055 joules.
It is crucial to note the difference between a BTU and the calorific values used in different systems. For example, 1 calorie (cal) is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C, and 1 kilocalorie (kcal), which is equal to 1000 calories, is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.