Energy Converter

How to Use the Energy Converter

The Energy Converter transforms measurements between all standard units of energy and work. From physics homework involving joules and electronvolts to practical applications like comparing electricity costs in kilowatt-hours or food calories, this tool covers every energy conversion need.

Supported Units

Convert between joules (J), kilojoules (kJ), calories (cal), kilocalories (kcal/Cal), watt-hours (Wh), kilowatt-hours (kWh), British thermal units (BTU), electronvolts (eV), foot-pounds (ft-lb), and ergs. Each has specific applications across different fields.

Key Conversion Factors

1 kWh = 3,600,000 J = 3,412 BTU. 1 calorie = 4.184 J. 1 kilocalorie (food calorie) = 4,184 J = 1,000 cal. 1 BTU = 1,055.06 J. 1 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J. 1 foot-pound = 1.356 J. These relationships connect the physics, nutrition, and engineering energy scales.

Energy in Daily Life

Your home electricity is measured in kWh. Running a 100W light bulb for 10 hours uses 1 kWh. A food calorie (kcal) is the energy unit on nutrition labels. A 2,000 kcal diet provides about 8,368 kJ of energy. Heating is often measured in BTU. A typical home furnace produces 60,000-100,000 BTU per hour.

Physics and Engineering

The joule is the SI unit of energy: the work done by a force of 1 newton over 1 meter. In atomic physics, the electronvolt measures energy at the subatomic scale. In thermodynamics, BTU measures heat energy. These diverse units reflect the many forms energy takes across disciplines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a calorie and a Calorie?

A: A lowercase calorie (cal) is the energy to raise 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. An uppercase Calorie (Cal), also called kilocalorie (kcal), equals 1,000 small calories. Food labels use kilocalories but write them as Calories. A 200 Calorie snack contains 200,000 small calories or 200 kilocalories.

Q: How much energy does a kilowatt-hour represent?

A: One kWh is the energy consumed by a 1,000-watt device running for one hour, equal to 3.6 million joules. It costs about $0.10-0.30 depending on your location. Running a 1,500W space heater for 8 hours uses 12 kWh. Understanding kWh helps you estimate electricity costs.

Q: What is a BTU?

A: A British Thermal Unit is the energy needed to raise 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit, equal to about 1,055 joules. BTUs rate heating and cooling equipment capacity. A 12,000 BTU air conditioner (1 ton of cooling) can cool a room of about 500 square feet.