Calories to Joules Converter
Convert energy from calories (cal) to joules (J).
Result: - J
Kilocalories to Joules Converter
Convert food energy from kilocalories (kcal) to joules (J).
Result: - J
Joules to Calories Converter
Convert energy from joules (J) to calories (cal) and kilocalories (kcal).
Result: - cal / - kcal
Understanding Energy Units
What is a Calorie?
There are two types of calories:
- Small calorie (cal): Energy needed to raise 1g of water by 1°C
- Large calorie/Kilocalorie (kcal/Cal): Energy needed to raise 1kg of water by 1°C
- Food labels typically use kilocalories (kcal), often labeled as "Calories" with a capital C
Calorie to Joule Relationship
The exact conversion values are:
- 1 calorie = 4.184 joules
- 1 kilocalorie = 4184 joules
- 1 food Calorie (kcal) = 4184 joules
Common Energy Values in Food
Examples of energy content:
- 1g protein: 4 kcal (16.736 kJ)
- 1g carbohydrate: 4 kcal (16.736 kJ)
- 1g fat: 9 kcal (37.656 kJ)
- Average daily intake: 2000 kcal (8368 kJ)
Applications
Energy conversion is crucial in:
- Nutrition and dietetics
- Food science
- Metabolic studies
- Exercise physiology