Energy Unit Converter
Energy Conversion for All Needs
Convert between all major energy units with precision. Our energy converter handles units from joules and calories to kilowatt-hours and BTUs, making it essential for physics, engineering, nutrition, and utility calculations.
Common Energy Conversions
- 1 calorie = 4.184 joules (exact)
- 1 kilocalorie (food calorie) = 4,184 joules
- 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3,600,000 joules
- 1 BTU = 1,055.06 joules
- 1 electronvolt (eV) = 1.602176634×10-19 joules (exact)
- 1 kilogram TNT equivalent = 4,184,000 joules
Energy Units and Standards
The joule (J) is the SI derived unit for energy, work, and heat:
- Joule (J): SI derived unit
- Kilojoule (kJ): 1,000 joules
- Megajoule (MJ): 1,000,000 joules
- Gigajoule (GJ): 1,000,000,000 joules
Understanding Energy Measurements
Energy is the capacity to do work or produce heat. As a fundamental physical quantity, it appears in many forms including mechanical, electrical, chemical, thermal, and nuclear energy. The diversity of energy applications has led to the development of various specialized units across different fields and industries.
Precision: 15 decimal places
Standard: ISO 80000-5:2019
Energy Units in Different Fields
Physics and Engineering Units
Units commonly used in scientific and engineering contexts:
- Joule (J): Work done by a force of 1 newton over 1 meter
- Kilowatt-hour (kWh): Energy of 1 kilowatt power for 1 hour
- Erg: CGS system unit, equal to 10-7 joules
- Foot-pound force: Work done by 1 pound-force over 1 foot
Nutrition and Food Energy
Units used for measuring food energy:
- Calorie (cal): Energy to raise 1g water by 1°C
- Kilocalorie (kcal): 1,000 calories, the "Calorie" on food labels
- Kilojoule (kJ): Alternative food energy unit in many countries
Specialized Energy Units
Units for specific applications:
- British Thermal Unit (BTU): Energy to raise 1 pound of water by 1°F
- Therm: 100,000 BTU, used in natural gas metering
- Electronvolt (eV): Energy gained by an electron moving across 1 volt potential
- Ton of TNT: Used for measuring explosions and nuclear yields
Energy, Power, and Time
Energy and power are related but distinct concepts. Energy is the capacity to do work, while power is the rate at which energy is transferred or consumed:
- Energy (joules) = Power (watts) × Time (seconds)
- 1 watt = 1 joule per second
- 1 kilowatt-hour = 3.6 megajoules