What do calories measure?

1 Answer
SCooke
Sep 1, 2017

The 'calorie' is a unit of thermal energy.

Explanation:

A calorie is the amount of energy required to raise 1 g of water by 1 degree Celsius. It is equal to 4.184 Joules

The "calorie" used in food values is really a kilocalorie (kcal). It is the amount of energy, or heat, it takes to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). One kcal is equal to 4,184 Joules, or 4.184 kJ.

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