Energy Converter
Convert between different units of energy
1 Kilocalorie (kcal)=0 Kilojoule (kJ)
Conversion Formula
Step-by-Step Calculation:
To convert 1 Kilocalorie to Kilojoule, multiply by 4.184 to get 4.184 Kilojoule.
Conversion Table
| Kilocalorie (kcal) | Kilojoule (kJ) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0418 |
| 0.1 | 0.4184 |
| 1 | 4.184 |
| 2 | 8.368 |
| 5 | 20.92 |
| 10 | 41.84 |
| 20 | 83.68 |
| 50 | 209.2 |
| 100 | 418.4 |
Common Energy Conversions
Unit Information & History
Joule
Definition: The SI unit of energy, defined as the energy transferred to an object when a force of one newton acts on it over a distance of one meter.
History: Named after James Prescott Joule, who demonstrated the relationship between mechanical work and heat in the 19th century.
Current Use: The standard scientific unit for all forms of energy (mechanical, thermal, electrical). Food energy is also measured in kilojoules in many countries.
Calorie
Definition: Originally defined as the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.
History: First defined by Nicolas Clément in 1824. Confusingly, the "Calorie" on food labels is actually a kilocalorie (1,000 small calories).
Current Use: Widely used in chemistry (small calories) and almost exclusively used for food energy (kilocalories) in the US.
Kilowatt-hour
Definition: A unit of energy equal to one kilowatt of power sustained for one hour.
History: Developed with the rise of the electrical utility industry to measure electricity consumption over time.
Current Use: The standard unit for electricity billing worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions
Q:How many joules in a calorie?
One thermochemical calorie equals 4.184 joules. To convert calories to joules, multiply by 4.184.
Q:How many kilowatt-hours in a joule?
One kilowatt-hour equals 3.6 million joules. To convert joules to kWh, divide by 3,600,000.
Q:What is the difference between watts and joules?
A watt is a rate of energy use (joules per second), while a joule is a unit of energy itself. Calories in food are actually kilocalories.