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calories to Kilojoules conversion

calories to Kilojoules conversion table

calories (cal)Kilojoules (kJ)
00
10.004184
20.008368
30.012552
40.016736
50.02092
60.025104
70.029288
80.033472
90.037656
100.04184
200.08368
300.12552
400.16736
500.2092
600.25104
700.29288
800.33472
900.37656
1000.4184
10004.184

How to convert calories to kilojoules?

Certainly! To convert calories to kilojoules (kJ), we'll use the conversion factor that 1 calorie (cal) is approximately equal to 0.004184 kilojoules (kJ).

So, 1 cal×0.004184 kJcal=0.004184 kJ1 \, \text{cal} \times 0.004184 \, \frac{\text{kJ}}{\text{cal}} = 0.004184 \, \text{kJ}

Therefore, 1 calorie is equivalent to 0.004184 kilojoules.

Real-World Examples of Caloric Quantities

Let's look at some common examples of calories to get a sense of typical energy values in different contexts.

  1. Small Snack:

    • A small apple roughly contains about 95 calories.
    • Converting to kilojoules: 95 cal×0.004184 kJcal=0.39748 kJ≈397.48 kJ95 \, \text{cal} \times 0.004184 \, \frac{\text{kJ}}{\text{cal}} = 0.39748 \, \text{kJ} \approx 397.48 \, \text{kJ}

  2. Soft Drink:

    • A can of soda (12 oz) has about 150 calories.
    • Converting to kilojoules: 150 cal×0.004184 kJcal=0.6276 kJ≈627.6 kJ150 \, \text{cal} \times 0.004184 \, \frac{\text{kJ}}{\text{cal}} = 0.6276 \, \text{kJ} \approx 627.6 \, \text{kJ}

  3. Daily Caloric Needs:

    • The average daily caloric intake recommended for an adult is roughly 2000 calories.
    • Converting to kilojoules: 2000 cal×0.004184 kJcal=8.368 kJ≈8368 kJ2000 \, \text{cal} \times 0.004184 \, \frac{\text{kJ}}{\text{cal}} = 8.368 \, \text{kJ} \approx 8368 \, \text{kJ}

  4. Burned During Physical Activity:

    • Running a mile burns roughly 100 calories.
    • Converting to kilojoules: 100 cal×0.004184 kJcal=0.4184 kJ≈418.4 kJ100 \, \text{cal} \times 0.004184 \, \frac{\text{kJ}}{\text{cal}} = 0.4184 \, \text{kJ} \approx 418.4 \, \text{kJ}

These examples help contextualize how much energy specific activities or foods represent and how to convert those values into kilojoules for better comprehension in metric units.

See below section for step by step unit conversion with formulas and explanations. Please refer to the table below for a list of all the Kilojoules to other unit conversions.

What is calories?

Calories are a unit of measurement that represents the amount of energy your body gets from consuming food and drinks. In other words, they measure the energy content of what you eat.

Here's how it works:

  1. Your body uses calories to function: To grow, repair tissues, and maintain basic bodily functions (like beating your heart or breathing), your body needs a certain amount of energy.
  2. Food provides that energy: When you eat food, the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in those foods are broken down into different forms of energy. This process is called metabolism.
  3. Calories represent that energy: The total amount of energy from these processes is measured in calories (or kilocalories). One calorie is equal to 4.184 joules.

Think of it like this:

  • A car engine needs gasoline to run, and a certain amount of gasoline provides a specific amount of energy.
  • Similarly, your body "runs" on the energy provided by the foods you eat. The more calories in those foods, the more energy they provide for your bodily functions.

Here are some common examples of calorie sources:

  • 1 banana: approximately 100-110 calories
  • 1 apple: around 95 calories
  • 1 cup of cooked rice: about 200-250 calories

When you consume a certain amount of calories, your body uses that energy to perform various functions. Excess calories can lead to weight gain if not balanced with physical activity or burned off through exercise.

Does this help clarify what calories are?

What is kilojoules?

Kilojoules (kJ) are a unit of energy, specifically a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

In other words, it's a way to quantify the amount of energy that something contains or releases. Kilojoules are commonly used in science, technology, and everyday life to express the energy content of various things, such as:

  • Foods: The energy content of foods is often listed in kilojoules (kJ) on nutrition labels.
  • Electrical appliances: The power consumption of devices like refrigerators or televisions is sometimes expressed in kilowatts (kW), which can be converted to kilojoules per second.
  • Chemical reactions: In chemistry, kilojoules are used to express the energy released or absorbed during chemical reactions.

To put it into perspective:

  • A typical snack bar might have around 400-600 kJ of energy content
  • A standard household light bulb uses about 60 W (which is equivalent to approximately 360 kJ per hour)
  • The kinetic energy of a human running at a moderate pace is around 500-700 kJ per minute

So, kilojoules are simply a way to measure and express the amount of energy in various forms.

Complete calories conversion table

Enter # of calories
Convert 1 cal to other unitsResult
calories to Watt-seconds (cal to Ws)4.184
calories to Watt-minutes (cal to Wm)0.06973333333333
calories to Watt-hours (cal to Wh)0.001162222222222
calories to Milliwatt-hours (cal to mWh)1.1622222222222
calories to Kilowatt-hours (cal to kWh)0.000001162222222222
calories to Megawatt-hours (cal to MWh)1.1622222222222e-9
calories to Gigawatt-hours (cal to GWh)1.1622222222222e-12
calories to Joules (cal to J)4.184
calories to Kilojoules (cal to kJ)0.004184
calories to Megajoules (cal to MJ)0.000004184
calories to Gigajoules (cal to GJ)4.184e-9
calories to Kilocalories (cal to kcal)0.001

Energy conversions