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Kilocalories to Kilojoules conversion

Kilocalories to Kilojoules conversion table

Kilocalories (kcal)Kilojoules (kJ)
00
14.184
28.368
312.552
416.736
520.92
625.104
729.288
833.472
937.656
1041.84
2083.68
30125.52
40167.36
50209.2
60251.04
70292.88
80334.72
90376.56
100418.4
10004184

How to convert kilocalories to kilojoules?

Certainly! Converting kilocalories (kcal) to kilojoules (kJ) is a straightforward process because there is a set conversion factor between these two units. Specifically, 1 kilocalorie is equivalent to 4.184 kilojoules.

Here is the formula for the conversion: kilojoules (kJ)=kilocalories (kcal)×4.184\text{kilojoules (kJ)} = \text{kilocalories (kcal)} \times 4.184

To convert 1 kilocalorie to kilojoules: 1 kcal×4.184=4.184 kJ1 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 4.184 \, \text{kJ}

Real-World Examples

To give you a better sense of this, here are several examples converting various quantities of kilocalories to kilojoules:

  1. 2 kilocalories: 2 kcal×4.184=8.368 kJ2 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 8.368 \, \text{kJ}

  2. 10 kilocalories: 10 kcal×4.184=41.84 kJ10 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 41.84 \, \text{kJ}

  3. 100 kilocalories: 100 kcal×4.184=418.4 kJ100 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 418.4 \, \text{kJ}

  4. 250 kilocalories: 250 kcal×4.184=1,046 kJ250 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 1,046 \, \text{kJ}

  5. 500 kilocalories: 500 kcal×4.184=2,092 kJ500 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 2,092 \, \text{kJ}

  6. 1,000 kilocalories (1 Calorie, as it is sometimes referred to in nutrition): 1,000 kcal×4.184=4,184 kJ1,000 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 4,184 \, \text{kJ}

Practical Applications

In a real-world context, you often see these conversions on food labels and in dietary guidelines:

  • A small apple (~52 kcal) converts to: 52 kcal×4.184=217.568 kJ52 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 217.568 \, \text{kJ}

  • A serving of cooked rice (~200 kcal) converts to: 200 kcal×4.184=836.8 kJ200 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 836.8 \, \text{kJ}

  • A slice of pizza (~300 kcal) converts to: 300 kcal×4.184=1,255.2 kJ300 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 1,255.2 \, \text{kJ}

  • An average daily consumption of 2,000 kilocalories: 2,000 kcal×4.184=8,368 kJ2,000 \, \text{kcal} \times 4.184 = 8,368 \, \text{kJ}

Understanding this conversion can help people better grasp the energy content in their foods, making it easier to follow dietary guidelines and manage energy consumption.

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 kilocalories?

Kilocalories (kcal) are a unit of energy that measures the amount of heat or energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. In other words, it's a measure of how much energy is needed to change the state of a substance (in this case, water).

In nutrition and food science, kilocalories are used to express the energy content of foods and drinks. One kilocalorie is equal to 1000 calories (not to be confused with "Calories" which is capitalized and refers to the unit of energy specifically related to the human body). The term "kilocalorie" is often shortened to simply "calorie", but technically, it's a measure of the energy content of foods and drinks.

Here are some examples of how kilocalories are used in everyday life:

  1. Food labels: When checking nutrition labels on packaged foods, you'll see the energy content listed in kilocalories (kcal).
  2. Caloric intake: The number of kilocalories an individual consumes or burns is a measure of their caloric balance.
  3. Physical activity: The energy expended during exercise or physical activity is also measured in kilocalories.

To give you an idea of the scale, here are some approximate kilocalorie values for common foods and drinks:

  • Apple (1 medium): 95 kcal
  • Banana (1 medium): 105 kcal
  • Cup of coffee: 0-2 kcal
  • Glass of water: 0 kcal

I hope that helps you understand what kilocalories 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 Kilocalories conversion table

Enter # of Kilocalories
Convert 1 kcal to other unitsResult
Kilocalories to Watt-seconds (kcal to Ws)4184
Kilocalories to Watt-minutes (kcal to Wm)69.733333333333
Kilocalories to Watt-hours (kcal to Wh)1.1622222222222
Kilocalories to Milliwatt-hours (kcal to mWh)1162.2222222222
Kilocalories to Kilowatt-hours (kcal to kWh)0.001162222222222
Kilocalories to Megawatt-hours (kcal to MWh)0.000001162222222222
Kilocalories to Gigawatt-hours (kcal to GWh)1.1622222222222e-9
Kilocalories to Joules (kcal to J)4184
Kilocalories to Kilojoules (kcal to kJ)4.184
Kilocalories to Megajoules (kcal to MJ)0.004184
Kilocalories to Gigajoules (kcal to GJ)0.000004184
Kilocalories to calories (kcal to cal)1000

Energy conversions