1 Calorie:
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius (°C), equivalent to approximately 4000 Joules of energy, or 1 Kilojoule. Known as a large calorie or a kilocalorie.
1 calorie:
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 °C, or approximately 4 Joules of energy. Known as a small calorie.
An average human male requires approximately 10 MJ of energy every day, or approximately a third of a litre of petrol (which contains 36 MJ). A human male however cannot drink petrol unless they are insane, or attempting self-emmoliation. Therefore they need to work out how much energy they need in calories, as food packaging sadly does not give energy readings in terms of fractions of a litre of petrol.
1 large calorie, a Calorie, is 1000 small calories, or calories, which is also 4.18 kJ. Two different measures, spelt the same, the capitalisation of the first letter being the only distinguishing feature between them. This probably explains why so many diets go very wrong.
If a human male requires 10 MJ of energy, 1 MJ being 1 million Joules, this equals 10000 kJ, 10000 thousand Joules, or 10000000 Joules. 10000 kJ therefore equals 2392.35 Calories. That’s Calories not calories.
I need a lie down.
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