Calorie
Definition
A calorie is a unit of energy defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. In scientific contexts, it is often replaced by the joule, where 1 calorie equals approximately 4.184 joules.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- A calorie is a unit used to measure energy in thermodynamics and heat transfer processes.
- One calorie is equivalent to approximately 4.184 joules.
- Calories are commonly used in calorimetry experiments to determine the specific heat capacities of substances.
- The dietary Calorie (with an uppercase C) is actually a kilocalorie (1000 calories).
- In equations, calories can be converted to joules using the relation: $Q = mc\Delta T$ where $Q$ is in calories or joules.
Review Questions
- How many joules are equivalent to one calorie?
- What does a dietary Calorie represent in terms of regular calories?
- Why might scientists prefer using joules over calories in thermodynamic calculations?
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Related terms
Joule: A derived unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the energy transferred when applying a force of one newton over a distance of one meter.
Specific Heat Capacity: The amount of heat required to change the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.
Calorimetry: The science or practice of measuring quantities of heat transferred during chemical reactions or physical changes.
